Shortsightedness (myopia)

What is myopia?

Myopia, also known as short sightedness or near sightedness, is the condition in which distant objects appear blurry. A shortsighted person may have good vision at close range, but will usually experience difficulties seeing details or objects that are far away.

What problems might a person who is shortsighted experience?

A person who has developed myopia may experience:

• Difficulty seeing distant objects
• Squinting frequently
• Difficulty seeing writing on signs or television
• Difficulty with driving (particularly at night)

An example of normal vision v shortsightedness

It is worth noting that a shortsighted person may still cope through a lot of situations. In the example above, the shortsighted person would be aware that the view is of boats on water, with buildings in the background, but is unable to see any of the finer details.

Who develops shortsightedness?

Anyone can develop myopia at any age; however the great majority of cases of people developing myopia occur between the ages of 10 to 30, with a high prevalence in teenage years. It is estimated that 15% of the Australian population has some degree of myopia.

What causes shortsightedness?

No-one can give an exact answer to this question. There is believed to be both a genetic component (myopia can run in families), and an environmental component, related to the amount of reading and near work undertaken.

With myopia, light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina. This occurs because either the eye has grown too long, or the focusing components of the eye are too strong.

A diagram of a normal eye v a shortsighted eye.

As you can see, in the diagram of the normal eye, light enters the eye, and focusses perfectly onto the back of the eye (the retina). With a shortsighted eye, the light focusses in front of the retina, and causes the image that forms on the retina to be blurred. Thus, causing distance vision to be blurred.

Can shortsightedness be cured?

At this stage - no. But scientists are continuously working on ways to slow or prevent the development of myopia.

What should I do if I think I might be shortsighted?

You should arrange for an eye examination with your local Optometrist. Eye examinations in Australia are supported by the Medicare system for all Australian residents. Referrals are not required for an eye examination with an Optometrist. Your Optometrist will advise you if you have developed myopia, and will be able to recommend the best form of treatment if it is required.

What options do I have if I am shortsighted?

The safest and easiest option for a shortsighted person is to have glasses. Contact lenses are also very popular with shorsighted people, and recently, laser eye surgery has become an attractive option.