What is myopia?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error in the eye where distant objects appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly. This condition occurs when the eyeball is too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, it becomes challenging to see distant objects clearly, prompting individuals to squint or strain their eyes in an attempt to bring those objects into focus.

The other options describe different conditions that are not related to myopia. Impaired near vision pertains to hyperopia (farsightedness) rather than myopia. Ocular inflammation and degenerative eye diseases encompass a variety of conditions that affect different aspects of eye health but do not specifically pertain to refractive errors like myopia. Understanding the definition of myopia helps in recognizing its symptoms and the necessity for corrective measures, such as glasses or contact lenses, to improve distance vision.