What is nearsightedness?

A child who is nearsighted can see things that are up close. But your child has trouble seeing things in the distance. Faraway objects look blurry and out of focus. It may be hard for your child to see images or words on a street sign, movie screen, or TV.

Children who are nearsighted may squint or frown or hold books or other objects very close to the face. They may sit at the front of the classroom or very close to the TV or movie screen. They may not be interested in sports or other things that need good distance vision.

This vision problem is often caused by a natural change in the shape of the eyeball. The eyeball is oval (egg-shaped) rather than round. This causes light rays that enter the eye to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it.

Eyeglasses or contact lenses can help correct nearsightedness.

Nearsightedness usually begins in childhood. During the teen years, as the eyeballs continue to grow, it may develop or get worse quickly. Teenagers may need new glasses more often then children and adults.

Nearsightedness usually stops getting worse by age 20. Most nearsightedness stabilizes at a mild to moderate level.

The main symptom is blurred vision when looking at distant objects. You may have trouble clearly seeing pictures or words on a street sign, movie screen, or television. Children may squint or frown. They may get headaches often. Or children may hold books or other objects very close to their faces.

Most people who are nearsighted use eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. Surgery may be an option for some people. Options may include LASIK, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), and artificial lens implants. Some people with mild nearsightedness may not need to correct their vision.

A routine eye exam can show whether you're nearsighted. It includes questions about your eyesight and a physical exam of your eyes. Ophthalmoscopy, slit lamp exams, and other tests that check vision and eye health are also part of the exam. Eye exams should be done for new babies and at all well-child visits.

Reduce eyestrain

• Make sure that your child wears eyeglasses or contact lenses as prescribed.
• Provide good light for reading or study. Use a soft background light plus a light on your child's task.
• Have your child take frequent breaks when they do close work that can be hard on the eyes. Tell your child to blink often and to close and rest their eyes when they feel tired or dry. Set a 20-minute timer and have your child look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds (the "20-20-20" rule).
• Avoid glare on screens. Place the TV or computer screen where lights do not reflect on the screen. Some children find it easier to work on a computer in a dimly lit room. You can also try an anti-glare screen or screen protector.

Keep your child's eyes healthy

• Make sure your child gets eye exams as often as your doctor recommends.
• Have your child wear sunglasses to block harmful sunlight. Choose a pair that will screen out ultraviolet A and B (UVA and UVB) rays.

Most nearsightedness is caused by a natural change in the shape of the eyeball. Less often, nearsightedness may be caused by a change in the cornea or the lens. These problems cause light rays entering the eye to focus in front of the retina. Normally, light focuses directly on the retina.

Nearsightedness (myopia) is a common cause of blurred vision. It can be mild, moderate, or severe. If you are nearsighted, objects in the distance appear blurry and out of focus. You might squint or frown when trying to see distant objects clearly. Nearsightedness is usually a variation from normal, not a disease.