Eye Concerns

For a shortsighted person, close objects are clear, but distant objects- such as a school blackboard, a street sign, or a face across a room- are blurred and difficult to distinguish. Over 25% of adults worldwide are nearsighted.

What is the cause?

Technically known as myopia, shortsightedness occurs when the eye is unusually long, a shape that causes light rays to focus too far in front of the retina. An inherited condition, it is often discovered when children are 8 to 12 years old. During the teenage years, when the body is growing rapidly, shortsightedness gets worse. Then between ages 20 and 40 there is little change.

People who are severely nearsighted have a higher risk of having a detached retina.

How can it be treated?

People who are shortsighted can have their vision corrected by several means, including:

• Glasses
• Contact lenses
• Surgery