HealthyCanada.com

People who are nearsighted can clearly see objects that are close up, but distant objects do not come into proper focus. It is a very common condition, affecting about 30 per cent of the population, many of them school-aged children. Nearsightedness affects males and females equally, and those with a family history of nearsightedness are more likely to develop it. Most eyes with nearsightedness are healthy, but a small number of people with myopia develop a form of retinal degeneration.

People who are nearsighted often complain of eyestrain and squinting, especially when watching television or driving. Sometimes they also have headaches.

In people who are nearsighted, the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so the light entering the eye is not focused correctly. Light rays of images focus in front of the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, rather than directly on the retina. This results in blurred vision.

Nearsightedness runs in families and usually appears in childhood, often when a school child complains about not being able to see the chalkboard. It may become progressively worse through adolescence before stabilizing in early adulthood.

Nearsightedness can be easily diagnosed using standard eye exams. If necessary, an eye doctor will prescribe glasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery to correct the problem. With nearsightedness, your prescription for glasses or contact lens is a negative number, such as -3.00. The higher the number, the stronger your lenses will be.

There is no way to prevent nearsightedness. However, the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends regular eye exams as follows:

• Infants and toddlers (birth to 24 months) - By age 6 months
• Preschool (2 to 5 years) - At age 3, and before entering elementary school
• School age (6 to 19 years) - Every year
• Adult (20 to 64 years) - Every one to two years
• Older adult (65 years and older) - Every year

Additional Resources:

Canadian Association of Optometrists