Myopia: (Nearsightedness)
Video: Nearsightedness
People with myopia have difficulty seeing objects in the distance, but may have no problems focusing on objects that are up close. Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too steep. When light enters a myopia (long) eyeball it is focused in front of the retina, instead of directly on the retina for normal vision. Symptoms of myopia can include eyestrain, blurred vision or headaches.
Doctors prescribe "negative" or concave corrective lenses (eyeglasses or contact lenses) for this condition. Surgically, flattening the central cornea treats myopia.
To treat nearsightedness, the cornea must be made flatter. This can be accomplished by removing tissue from the center of the cornea with a procedure such as LASIK .
