See through different eyes
What Nearsighted (myopia) looks like
Distance appears blurry
≈1 in 3 people worldwide · NEI · Learn more
What it is
The eye focuses light in front of the retina rather than on it, usually because the eyeball is slightly too long from front to back, sometimes because the cornea is too steeply curved. Near objects land in focus; distant ones do not.
What it looks like day to day
Road signs, faces across a room, whiteboards and subtitles all soften. Squinting helps a little, by narrowing the aperture the light comes through. Reading and close work are usually comfortable, which is why myopia often goes unnoticed until someone tries to read something far away.
What helps
Glasses and contact lenses correct it completely for most people, and laser surgery is a common alternative for adults whose prescription has stopped changing. In children, whose myopia often progresses, eye doctors now use several approaches specifically aimed at slowing that progression.
Who it affects
Around one in three people worldwide, and rising sharply, particularly in East Asia. It usually begins in childhood and stabilises in early adulthood. Time spent outdoors in childhood is associated with lower rates.
Related conditions
Explore every condition or learn about color blindness.
This is an approximation, not a medical diagnosis.