Short Sightedness

Overview

Short-sightedness (also called myopia) is a common eye condition where you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away look blurry. It happens when the eyeball becomes too long, or the cornea (the clear front layer of the eye) is too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) rather than directly on it.

Yes. More than one in four adults in the UK are short-sighted, and the number of children with short-sightedness has been increasing in recent years.

Short-sightedness typically starts in primary school and often worsens through the teenage years. It can also develop in adults. Anyone can be short-sighted, but it is more likely if you have a family history or if you spend little time outdoors in childhood.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• Blurred vision when looking at distant objects, such as road signs or a board in class
• Squinting or partially closing your eyes to see better
• Headaches or eye strain after doing visually focused tasks
• Difficulty reading signs, watching television, or seeing in the distance

Symptoms in children

• Sitting too close to the television or holding books very close to the face
• Squinting, frowning, or rubbing eyes frequently
• Having trouble seeing the whiteboard at school and falling behind on classroom tasks
• Complaining of headaches or tired eyes

Symptoms in older adults

• Blurred distance vision that persists even with reading glasses
• Needing to hold screens or books at unusual distances
• More noticeable difficulty driving at night or reading street signs
• A rapid change in glasses prescription

Causes

Main causes

• The eyeball is too long, so light focuses a little short of the retina
• The cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) is too curved
• The lens inside the eye is too thick or has too much focusing power
• A combination of inherited and environmental factors affects how the eye grows

Risk factors

• Family history of short-sightedness
• Spending long periods doing up-close work, such as reading, using phones, or working on computers
• Spending too little time outdoors during childhood
• Being born prematurely or with a low birth weight

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• Sudden flashes, a burst of floaters, or a dark curtain over part of your vision — call your local emergency number straight away
• Sudden painless loss of vision in one eye — call your local emergency number
• Severe eye pain, a red eye, or light sensitivity that comes on quickly

Book a routine appointment if:

• If you notice that distant objects have become blurred or you are squinting
• For adults, at least every two years for an eye examination, or more often if your optometrist recommends it
• For children, vision screening at school or a check-up with an optometrist if you have any concerns

Diagnosis

A qualified optometrist or eye specialist (ophthalmologist) carries out a full eye examination. They will ask about your symptoms, family history and general health. They then test each eye to check how well you see at near and far distances.

Tests that may be done

• A visual acuity test using a letter chart (Snellen chart)
• Retinoscopy or an autorefractor test to measure how the eye focuses light
• A refraction test to determine your exact glasses prescription
• Sometimes eye drops are used to relax the focusing muscles, giving a more accurate reading, especially in children

What to expect at your appointment

The examination usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes. You will be asked to read letters at a distance, look into a machine, and try different lenses. You may be given drops that make your vision blurry for a few hours, so bring sunglasses and arrange a lift if you can.

Treatment

There is no cure for short-sightedness, but it is very manageable. The main treatments are corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) that change where light focuses in the eye. In some adults, laser eye surgery is another option to reshape the cornea. Children and teenagers may be offered special lenses or eye drops to slow down the condition getting worse.

Self-care at home

• Attend regular eye examinations and update your glasses or contact lens prescription as advised
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule when using screens: every 20 minutes, look at something about 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Read and use screens in a well-lit room
• Wear your glasses or contact lenses exactly as directed by your optometrist

Medical treatments

Glasses are the safest and most common way to correct short-sightedness. Contact lenses are another option for those who want clear sight without frames. Some children are offered specially designed contact lenses or prescription eye drops that slow down how quickly short-sightedness worsens. For adults with a stable prescription, laser eye surgery can reshape the front of the eye to focus light correctly, but it is not suitable for everyone.

When is surgery considered?

Laser eye surgery is generally only considered for adults (usually over 18) whose prescription has stayed stable for at least a year, and who are free of other eye diseases. A full assessment is always done first by an eye surgeon.

Living with this condition

You do not need to make radical changes — wearing the correct glasses or lenses means you can drive, read, play sports and use screens normally. It’s important to keep your prescription up to date, carry a spare pair of glasses, and follow good screen and reading habits.

Lifestyle tips

• Encourage children to spend at least two hours a day outdoors, as this may help slow down worsening short-sightedness
• Limit long periods of close-up screen time and take frequent breaks
• Keep screens at a comfortable distance (about arm’s length) and at eye level
• Look after your glasses and contact lenses to keep your vision clear

Diet and exercise

Eating a balanced diet with colourful vegetables, leafy greens, oily fish and fruit supports general eye health. Regular exercise is good for overall wellbeing, but it has no direct effect on short-sightedness progression.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Wearing glasses can affect confidence, especially for children and teenagers. Talk to your optometrist about frames that suit your face, or consider contact lenses if they are recommended. Short-sightedness is a very common condition and there is nothing to feel embarrassed about — the right lenses should make your world clearer, not define who you are.

Prevention

You cannot always prevent short-sightedness, especially because it is inherited. But there is good evidence that spending more time outdoors and reducing long periods of close-up screen work during childhood may lower the chance of a child becoming more short-sighted.

Screening programmes

Regular eye checks are the best form of screening. Children often have their vision checked at school, and adults should have a comprehensive eye test every two years or more often if their optometrist recommends it.

Complications

If left untreated

• Persistent blurry vision and eye strain
• Headaches and poor concentration at work or school
• Higher risk of eye problems in later life, such as a detached retina (where the retina peels away from the back of the eye) or glaucoma (damage to the optic nerve), mainly in severe short-sightedness
• Children with uncorrected short-sightedness may develop a lazy eye (amblyopia), where one eye does not develop normal vision

Long-term outlook

The outlook for most people with short-sightedness is very good. With the right glasses, contact lenses or surgery, most people achieve normal, clear vision and live a full, active life. Regular eye examinations help you catch any changes early, and having short-sightedness does not mean you cannot enjoy good vision at every age.

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