Nearsightedness, ormyopia, is an eye problem that causes objects at a distance to appear blurry.
A nearsighted person can see things up close but has a hard time focusing on objects far away.
Symptoms of nearsightedness can include squinting, difficulty seeing objects that are far away, and eyestrain or fatigue.
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It can be managed with corrective lenses.
What is Nearsightedness?
The medical term for this is myopia.
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye.
Nearsightedness can be mild (called low myopia) or severe (called high myopia).
People with more severe nearsightedness are at higher risk of developing other eye conditions, likecataractsandglaucoma.
Children can inherit nearsightedness if one of their parents has it.
Farsightedness (hyperopia) is when you have trouble focusing on things that are close to you.
Causes
The exact causes of nearsightedness aren’t well understood.
Potential causes of nearsightedness include:
Nearsightedness seems to have a strong genetic component.
For example, 8090% of high school graduates have myopia in East and Southeast Asia.
How to rest your eyes
When doing near work, follow the20-20-20 ruleto prevent eye strain.
Rest your eyes every 20 minutes by looking at something more than 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
It is also a good idea to combine these breaks with daily outdoor time.
It is also a good idea to have your vision checked if it seems to be changing over time.
Diagnosis
To diagnose nearsightedness, an eye care provider will do acomprehensive eye examination.
These spasms usually resolve after a few minutes.
Others with a high degree of nearsightedness may only have clear vision a few inches from their nose.
Outlook
Nearsightedness is common and treatable.
Others may experience occasional eyestrain or headaches.
Summary
Myopia is the medical term for nearsightedness.
Symptoms include eyestrain, headaches, and difficulty seeing distant objects.
Nearsightedness may be low (mild) or high (severe).
High myopia increases the risk of certain eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and a detached retina.
Eye care providers diagnose myopia with a comprehensive eye exam.
It can be treated with corrective eyewear, like glasses or contact lenses, or with laser surgical treatment.
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