You may have heard of the term myopia, but you may not realize what it means. Many people know this term as nearsightedness checked by optometrists.

Myopia is a fairly common vision impairment where the affected individuals are able to clearly see objects that are close up, but the further they are, the more blurry they become. The light rays do not bend correctly which causes objects to focus in front of the retina instead of focusing on it.

Nearsightedness looked up by eye doctors is a condition that can develop gradually over time, or at a very rapid pace. Children may notice that it gets significantly worse while growing up and is also a condition that runs in the family in many cases.

If you think you might have issues with myopia, there are multiple symptoms to look for. Keep in mind, though, that many of these symptoms are also indicators of other problems, so it’s always recommended that this not be the sole basis on any self-diagnosis. Any vision impairments need to be thoroughly examined by a qualified professional as well in order to get the help you need to remedy the issue.

Symptoms of nearsightedness may include one or all of the following:

• Blurred vision – While this can also occur in seeing objects that are reasonably close, this will be especially noticeable in objects that are further away in the distance.
• Squinting – You’ll notice this a lot when someone attempts to focus on an object in the distance. This is an attempt to see it more clearly.
• Headaches – When your eyes strain it will cause headaches to occur. The longer the strain goes, the worse the headache will become
• Vision difficulty – The most obvious symptom. If you cannot see clearly then this could be a sign of a health issue too. You’ll want to make sure you get checked out as this could be an issue with blood pressure or other things.

Nearsightedness is commonly diagnosed in children into their teenage years. If you’re a parent, you might notice some of the signs in your child. This would be your clue to go have them professionally diagnosed, but they should still get annual exams whether you think there is an issue or not. Sitting closer to the television or needing to sit at the front of the classroom could be signs of vision issues. Not noticing objects in the distance, excessive blinking, or lots of squinting could be signs of an issue with their vision as well.

If you have any or all of the above symptoms, it’s probably time to seek the advice of an eye care professional. You do not want to be operating a motorized vehicle or performing potentially dangerous activities while attempting to see what you cannot see. This is also why it’s imperative to get annual checkups. You don’t know what you don’t know, so this is why you need a checkup every year to make sure you don’t lose what’s one of the most precious senses you have. Call your eye care provider if you have any sudden changes to your vision, flashes of light, floaters (black specs that float in your line of vision), curtain-like shadows, or any other abnormalities as this could be a sign of a more significant issue