Myopia is commonly called “short-sightedness,” and it occurs when a person’s eye is “too long” for its own focal length and focused light falls on a focal point in front of the retina. Myopic people can see close up quite well but find distant objects (television, driving, etc.) are blurry.

Myopia is very common and seems to be more so if there is short-sightedness in the family. It also seems to be connected with concentrated close work and studying in some people.
It usually develops in teenage years and tends to slowly get worse over a number of years. By the time most people reach late twenties the eyes will have stopped getting worse and will usually remain fairly stable from then on.

Spectacles or contact lenses can easily correct this condition.