Myopia (Short-Sightedness)

Myopia – also known as short-sightedness – occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too steep.

This means that when light enters the eye, it is focused slightly in front of the retina, rather than directly on it. As a result, distant objects appear blurry.

Myopia affects the ability to focus on objects in the distance, while their near vision may still be very good. For example, people with myopia may struggle to read the numbers on buses or read road signs, while reading a book is easy. This is because the eye is naturally focused at a near distance.

Myopia is the most common refractive error, affecting around 2.6 billion people worldwide. The first Laser Eye Surgery procedure was designed to correct myopia. The treatment involves changing the shape of the cornea to correct the way it directs light into the eye. As a result, light is focused onto the retina, enabling the brain to better process distant objects.