Condition

Myopia

Also known as Nearsightedness, Shortsightedness, Short-Sighted, Near-Sighted, High Myopia, Pathologic Myopia

Updated May 16, 2026For educational purposes only. Not a substitute for medical advice. See our terms.

Bottom Line

Myopia (nearsightedness) means close-up things look clear but far-away things look blurry. It often starts in childhood and gets worse as the eye grows — glasses, contacts, or special drops and lenses can keep vision sharp.

Myopia, also called nearsightedness, is one of the most common eye problems in the world. About 30% of people on Earth are nearsighted today, and the World Health Organization estimates this will rise to about 50% (around 5 billion people) by 2050 1.

In a nearsighted eye, the eyeball is slightly too long or the cornea (the clear front of the eye) is too curved. Light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it, so far-away things look blurry while up-close things look clear. Myopia usually starts in childhood, gets worse as the eye grows, and stabilizes in the late teens or early 20s 2.

Most myopia is easy to correct with glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery later in life. But high myopia (a prescription stronger than about -6.00 diopters) stretches the back of the eye and raises the lifetime risk of serious problems — retinal detachment, myopic macular degeneration, early cataract, and glaucoma 3.

Because myopia in kids is rising fast, eye doctors now offer myopia control treatments — low-dose atropine drops, orthokeratology contact lenses, soft multifocal contacts, and special spectacle lenses — that can slow how fast a child's myopia gets worse 4.

Symptoms & Warning Signs

Go to the emergency room or urgent eye care today if you have a sudden shower of new floaters, flashes of light, or a curtain or shadow in your side vision. These can mean a retinal detachment, which is more common in people with high myopia and needs same-day treatment.

Common signs of myopia in adults and teens:

  • Blurry distance vision — road signs, the TV across the room, or faces look fuzzy.
  • Squinting to see at a distance.
  • Eye strain or headaches after reading or using a screen.
  • Trouble seeing at night, especially while driving.
  • Needing to hold things close to see them clearly.

Common signs in children:

  • Sitting very close to the TV or holding books close.
  • Squinting, tilting the head, or covering one eye.
  • Trouble reading the board at school or doing worse on assignments that involve seeing far away.
  • Saying they have headaches after school or homework.
  • Rubbing their eyes a lot.

Most myopia is gradual and is found at a routine eye exam. Children often do not say they cannot see — they assume blurry distance vision is normal. School vision screenings catch many cases, but a full eye exam is more accurate 2.

What Causes Myopia

Myopia happens when the eyeball grows slightly too long, or the cornea is too curved, so light focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. Both genes and lifestyle matter.

Genetic risk factors:

  • Parents with myopia. A child with one nearsighted parent is about twice as likely to be nearsighted; with two, about five to six times as likely 2.
  • East and Southeast Asian background. Myopia is very common in East Asia — up to 80-90% of young adults in some countries.

Lifestyle and environment:

  • Less time outdoors. Children who spend more time outside in daylight are less likely to become nearsighted. Researchers think bright outdoor light slows eye growth.
  • A lot of close work. Long hours of reading, screen time, and very-near focus may push myopia along, though the size of the effect is debated.
  • Starting school early and high-pressure academic systems are linked to more myopia in some countries.

Other risk factors for fast progression:

  • Starting nearsightedness before age 10.
  • Fast yearly change in prescription (more than -0.50 D per year).
  • Already having moderate or high myopia.

Treatment & Myopia Control

Most myopia is corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Children and teens whose myopia is getting worse fast may also benefit from myopia control — a set of treatments that slow how much the eye keeps lengthening. The goal is to lower the chance of ending up with high myopia and its lifelong risks 4.

Correction (clears the vision today):

  • Glasses. Simple, safe, and good for almost everyone.
  • Contact lenses (soft or rigid). Useful for sports, school, or appearance. Daily disposables lower the risk of infection.
  • Laser eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, SMILE). An option for adults whose myopia has been stable for at least a year. See the LASIK and PRK pages.
  • Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL). Useful for very high myopia or thin corneas.

Myopia control (slows progression in children):

  • Low-dose atropine drops (usually 0.01-0.05%). A drop in each eye at bedtime. The 0.05% dose seems to slow myopia best in many studies but causes a bit more light sensitivity and trouble with near focus. Treatment usually runs for 2-3 years 6.
  • Orthokeratology ("ortho-K"). Rigid contact lenses worn overnight that gently reshape the cornea while the child sleeps. The child sees clearly the next day without glasses or contacts, and axial eye growth slows 7.
  • Soft multifocal contact lenses (e.g., dual-focus daily disposables) worn during the day. Slow eye growth by about 30-50% in studies.
  • Myopia-control spectacle lenses with special micro-lens designs. Newer option; useful for kids who cannot use contacts or drops.
  • Combination therapy. Some doctors use atropine drops together with ortho-K or multifocal contacts; this can add up to a bigger slowdown 8.
Outdoor time is the cheapest myopia control. Most groups recommend at least 2 hours a day of outdoor daylight for school-age children. It will not fix existing nearsightedness but may slow or prevent new myopia from starting.

Living With Myopia

Most people with myopia live with it for decades without major problems. A few habits help:

  • Get a full eye exam every 1-2 years (yearly for kids and teens, or anyone with high myopia). The exam should be dilated for high myopia so the retina can be checked.
  • Wear up-to-date glasses or contacts. Outdated prescriptions cause headaches and eye strain.
  • Practice good contact lens hygiene. Always wash hands. Never sleep in soft contacts unless approved. Replace lenses on schedule. Never reuse daily disposables.
  • Take screen breaks. The 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds) eases eye strain.
  • Spend time outdoors in daylight. Helpful for kids especially.
  • Know retinal detachment symptoms — sudden flashes, a shower of new floaters, or a curtain or shadow in your side vision. Go to urgent eye care the same day if you have any of these, especially with high myopia 3.
  • Protect your eyes from injury. Use safety glasses for sports and yard work.

Common Questions About Myopia

No. Once a child is nearsighted, the prescription usually gets stronger for years until the eye stops growing in the late teens or early 20s. A child does not grow out of myopia, but myopia control treatments can slow how much it gets worse 4.

Next Steps

  1. 1Book an eye exam if you (or your child) are squinting, sitting close, or having trouble seeing at a distance.
  2. 2If you have high myopia, schedule a dilated eye exam every year and learn the warning signs of retinal detachment.
  3. 3For children with growing myopia, ask whether myopia control (atropine drops, orthokeratology, soft multifocal contacts, or special spectacle lenses) is right for them.
  4. 4Encourage at least 2 hours of outdoor daylight a day for school-age children.
  5. 5Use the 20-20-20 rule during long reading or screen sessions: every 20 minutes, look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
  6. 6If you wear contact lenses, never sleep in them unless they are approved for overnight wear, and replace them on schedule.

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