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Myopia or Short-Sightedness: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

What is Myopia? Symptoms & Causes

Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is an eye condition that affects vision of objects that are far away.1 If you have myopia, you can see objects that are close by, but objects further away often appear blurred.2 For example, you may struggle reading road signs until they’re a few feet away.3

 

Myopia is on the rise:

  • Around one in three people in the UK have short-sightedness.2
  • The number of people with myopia has almost doubled over the last 20 years.4
  • It is anticipated that by 2050, almost half of the world’s population will have myopia.
  • More time spent focusing on screens, books, and other close objects is driving an increase in children developing myopia from a young age.5,6

 

Read on to learn what causes myopia, key symptoms to look for and the benefits of catching myopia early.

Causes and symptoms myopia section

Benefits of catching myopia early

Myopia can range from mild to severe:7

 

  • Mild myopia – requires no treatment.
  • Severe myopia – can significantly affect vision. 

 

Myopia often starts to develop between the ages of 10 and 13, but it can also occur in younger children.7

 

The earlier a child develops myopia, the greater the chance they have of developing more severe symptoms of the condition. 

 

More severe cases of myopia can increase the risk of eyesight-threatening complications later in adulthood.

 

This is because children’s eyes develop faster, which means myopia is likely to progress faster as they grow. 

 

However, catching and correcting myopia early can help prevent it from getting worse.1

Can myopia be corrected?

Can myopia be corrected?

Once children develop myopia, it is irreversible and is likely to progress as they get older. However, certain treatments and lifestyle changes can slow down and stop myopia from getting worse.1
Similarly, for adults, the eye growth that causes myopia is also irreversible. There are, however, several options which can help correct blurry vision.
Common myopia recommendations and treatments for children and adults may include:
For children
For adults
Orthokeratology – custom lenses that help manage myopia while your child sleeps. They reshape the cornea to promote clearer vision during the day.
Glasses – A common method to correct myopia.3 They can be worn daily or as needed to help with distance vision.3
Special glasses or contact lenses – can help slow down the development of myopia. This is known as myopia management.1
Contact lenses – Contact lenses move with your eyes to help give you a full field of clear focused vision, wherever you look.
Eye drops – Atropine eye drops may be prescribed to slow myopia progression.8
Orthokeratology – Lenses that you wear at night to help reshape your cornea to promote better eyesight during the day.3
More time outdoors – Research suggests that at least two hours a day outside can help reduce myopia development or slow its progression.
Laser eye surgery – Can help improve your eyesight by reshaping the front of your eye.1
Fewer close activities – Reducing time spent on close activities such as reading may help reduce myopia onset.10
Lens surgery – Replaces the lenses in your eyes with artificial ones to help improve your sight.1
Practising the 20-20-20 rule – Their optician may recommend looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes when engaging in close activities.
Spending more time outdoors – Spending more time outdoors can stop short-sightedness from getting worse.1

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Myopia FAQs

How do astigmatism and myopia differ?

Astigmatism can cause you to experience blurry or distorted vision up close and further away. People with myopia, on the other hand, can usually see up close but may struggle to make out objects from afar. These can often appear blurry or fuzzy.3

What is high myopia?

High myopia is caused by having a refractive error of -5.00D (Dioptres) or more.11 This can be determined by measurements carried out by your Optician. People with high myopia typically experience more distance vision blurring than people with low levels of myopia

Can myopia lead to blindness?

Yes. Myopia is a chronic, progressive eye condition that can put a strain on the delicate eye structures. This can lead to blindness later in life. Myopia can also lead to other vision complications later in life, such as myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment.

What should I expect for a myopia eye examination?

A myopia eye examination usually involves looking at a light or reading letters while different lenses are placed in front of your eyes.1 You may also be given eye drops to help the optician see the back of your eye better.1 Your Optician may also give you a prescription for glasses and/or contact lenses.1

Can exercise/vision therapy cure myopia?

There is no evidence to suggest that eye exercises can cure myopia. Certain activities may help slow the progression of myopia, however. An example is following the 20-20-20 rule when engaging in up-close activities like reading or screen time. 

Can LASIK cure or treat myopia?

No. LASIK (or laser eye surgery) does not cure myopia. People with myopia who undergo LASIK can still be at risk of developing sight-threatening complications later in life. This is because the lengthening of the eye that causes myopia has already occurred before LASIK. LASIK won’t stop myopia from progressing either. 

How does hyperopia differ from myopia?

Hyperopia is a common condition that is also called long-sightedness.12 This means you struggle to see things up close but can see distant objects clearly.12 This is the opposite of myopia. Myopia causes short-sightedness, where you cannot see objects that are far away1, but close items appear clear.3

What is near-sightedness?

Near-sightedness is another term for myopia3. A common condition that affects your distance vision.3 You may also see myopia or near-sightedness referred to as short-sightedness.1 The condition can usually be corrected with glasses or contact lenses1. Your Eye Care Professional can advise about the best option for you.1

What is the best treatment for myopia?

Treatment for myopia typically includes glasses or contact lenses. These are designed to help your eyes focus correctly, allowing you to see far objects more clearly. Your optician can advise which option is best for you.1 Some contact lenses may not be suitable for children.1

Is there a cure for short-sightedness?

No. There is no cure for short-sightedness (myopia).3 However, glasses and contact lenses can help you see distant objects more clearly.1 There are also things you can do to stop myopia getting worse.1 This includes spending more time outdoors.1 This can be especially helpful for children.1

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Footnotes

*T&Cs apply: 1 trial per person. 18+. Professional consultation and fitting fees may apply and are not included. Subject to optician approval. Participating opticians only. For full terms and conditions see here.

 

1 -  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/short-sightedness/ 

2 - https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/rates-of-short-sightedness-increasing-in-the-uk/ 

3 - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8579-myopia-nearsightedness 

4 - Holden BA, Fricke TR, Wilson DA, et al. Global Prevalence of Myopia and High Myopia and Temporal Trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology 2016;123:1036-42. 

5 - Huang HM, Chang DS, Wu PC. The Association between Near Work Activities and Myopia in Children - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015 Oct 20;10(10):e0140419. 

6 - Wu PC, Chen CT, Chang LC, Niu YZ, Chen ML, Liao LL, Rose K, Morgan IG. Increased Time Outdoors Is Followed by Reversal of the Long-Term Trend to Reduced Visual Acuity in Taiwan Primary School Students. 

7 - https://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/eye-conditions/myopia-short-sightedness 

8 - https://www.uhcw.nhs.uk/download/clientfiles/files/Patient%20Information%20Leaflets/Surgical%20Services/Ophthalmology/Information%20for%20Parents%20of%20Children%20with%20Myopia%20.pdf 

9 - Wu PC, Chen CT, Lin KK, et al. Myopia Prevention and Outdoor Light Intensity in a School-Based Cluster Randomized Trial. Ophthalmol. 2018;125:1239-50. 

10 - Huang PC, Hsiao YC, Tsai CY, Tsai DC, Chen CW, Hsu CC, Huang SC, Lin MH, Liou YM. Protective behaviours of near work and time outdoors in myopia prevalence and progression in myopic children: a 2-year prospective population study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2020 Jul;104(7):956-961. 

11 - World Health Organization. The impact of Myopia and High Myopia - Report of the Joint World Health Organization - Brien Holden Vision Institute Global Scientific Meeting.  

12 - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/long-sightedness/

 

 

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Last updated 01/12/2025
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