Myopia - GCSE Biology Definition

Myopia, often called short-sightedness, is a common eye condition where distant objects appear blurry while close-up objects can be seen clearly. This happens because light is focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Myopia usually starts in childhood or the teenage years and can make tasks like reading the board in class difficult without glasses or contact lenses. It is often caused by the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved. Myopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery, which help light focus properly onto the retina so that distant objects appear clear.