What is the term for nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness is referred to as myopia. This condition occurs when the eye shape causes light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. This situation arises when the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, which can lead to a variety of visual difficulties. Understanding myopia is essential for providing appropriate corrections, such as glasses or contact lenses, to help patients see clearly at a distance.

Hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia represent different refractive errors or age-related changes in the eye, but they do not pertain to the condition of nearsightedness. Hyperopia refers to farsightedness, where distant objects may be seen more easily than close ones. Astigmatism is characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea, leading to distorted vision at various distances. Presbyopia is the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on nearby objects, commonly associated with aging.