Myopia (nearsightedness) is a vision impairment that causes a person to have difficulty focusing on objects and signs that are far away. The condition is common among children and adults and can occur in one or both eyes. When it occurs in both eyes, it is called bilateral myopia.

What is the main cause of myopia?

What Causes Myopia? blame. When your eyeball is too long or the cornea -- the protective outer layer of your eye -- is too curved, the light that enters your eye won't focus correctly. Images focus in front of the retina, the light-sensitive part of your eye, instead of directly on the retina.

Can you go blind from myopia?

Left untreated, high myopia complications can lead to blindness, so regular eye exams are critical. Degenerative myopia: A fairly rare but serious form that usually begins in early childhood is degenerative myopia. This form is severe because it damages the retina and is a leading cause of legal blindness.