Myopia

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness or short-sightedness, is a visual defect where the person affected can see nearby objects clearly but distant objects appear blurred. Myopia is caused when the eye is slightly elongated front to back, causing images to be focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it. About one quarter of the adult population in the United States has myopia.

Myopia is an inherited condition. It is usually discovered during the pre-teen years between eight and twelve years of age. It most often worsens gradually as the eye grows during adolescence and then levels off as a person reaches adulthood. Myopia is measured in diopters, which is the power of the lens needed to focus distant images correctly on the retina. Myopia of 6.00 diopters or greater is considered high, or severe, myopia. People with high myopia are at greater risk of more acute eye problems such as retinal detachment[?] or glaucoma. The are also more likely to perceive floaters.

Myopia is most commonly corrected through the use of corrective lenses, such as spectacles or contact lenses. It may also be corrected by refractive surgery[?], such as LASIK[?].