What is Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Myopia, or nearsightedness occurs when the cornea has too much curvature or the eyeball is too long, so light is not focused correctly. Images focus in front of the retina, causing vision to blur when looking at items far away. The condition usually presents in childhood and can deteriorate with age. In most cases, myopia can be managed with glasses or contact lenses, and the prescription will have a negative number, such as -2.50 with higher numbers indicating worse vision.

Symptoms of Myopia

  • Blurry distance vision
  • Difficulty seeing road signs or the television
LASIK surgery patient dancing with balloons LASIK surgery patient dancing with balloons

Diagnosing Myopia

If your child is near sighted, how will you know? Parents often notice that their child has difficulty seeing the television, or a teacher may notice that a pupil struggles to see the chalkboard. These are classic symptoms of myopia, which may also be diagnosed in a school eye screening.

Treating Myopia

If you or your child has nearsighted vision, glasses and contact lenses may be used for temporary myopia treatment. Kleiman Evangelista Eye Centers also has several procedures that can surgically reduce or eliminate high myopia.