Nearsightedness, or myopia

It is the most common focusing problem, affecting a significant proportion of the Indian population. Nearsighted people can see various ranges of near objects clearly but not distant objects. Nearsightedness usually results from an eyeball that is too long. Because of this extra length, light from distant objects converges to a focal point before it reaches the retina at the back of the eye. Beyond the focal point, the light then begins to diverge. Since the retina only captures the quality of the image that reaches it, the brain receives a blurred image of what the eye is trying to see.

Nearsighted people need to wear minus-powered spectacles or contact lenses to see clearly.