Myopia, better known as nearsightedness, is an eye condition that causes difficulty seeing objects at a distance. In myopic eyes, the eyeball is either longer than normal or the cornea is too curved, both of which can cause images to appear blurry. Myopia can be hereditary—if one or both parents are nearsighted, there is an increased risk that their child will be nearsighted as well. Other risk factors include environmental influences such as prolonged close-up work on the computer, excessive reading, increased screen time, and not spending enough time outdoors. All of these can contribute to the development of myopia.

Myopia typically develops in childhood, and vision problems in children can be subtle. Watch for signs such as your child sitting too close to the television, frequent headaches, squinting to read, or rubbing their eyes. Changes in academic or athletic performance—or withdrawal from those activities—may also indicate a change in your child’s vision.