Myopia or nearsightedness is very common, affecting 26% of the non-Asian population. (Myopia occurs at a much higher rate in the Asian population.) It is a condition in which people have difficulties seeing objects in the distance, but may have no problems focusing on objects that are up close. This ability to see 'near' but not far is why this condition is more commonly called 'nearsightedness.'
Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too steep. When rays of light enter a myopic (long) eyeball, they are focused in front of the retina instead of directly on the retina where light must be directed for normal vision. Symptoms of nearsightedness can include eyestrain, blurred vision or headaches.
Correcting Myopia
Myopia or nearsightedness requires a concave corrective lens (glasses or contact lenses), which is written as a 'negative number' in your prescription. Surgically, nearsightedness is corrected by flattening the central cornea or implanting a contact lens (ICL) or intraocular lens (IOL).
