What is myopia?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is characterized by the inability to see distant objects clearly while nearby objects can be seen more clearly. This occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal or when the cornea has too much curvature, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, individuals with myopia experience blurred vision when looking at objects far away, such as road signs or the board in a classroom.

Understanding myopia is essential in optometry, as it informs the approach to visual corrections like glasses or contact lenses to help restore clear distance vision. The other options describe conditions unrelated to myopia, as they focus on reversed issues with vision or mischaracterize what myopia entails.