What is myopia or 'nearsightedness'?

Myopia is an eye condition (known as a refractive error), that can cause objects in the distance to appear blurry. This often happens when eye growth is rapid, or the eye becomes too long. When you try to read a sign in the distance, the rays of light are focused in front of the retina, instead of directly onto it. This causes your vision to become unclear and blurry. It's also called nearsighted because you can see up close but objects far away are blurry or unclear. In eyewear, the eyes can appear smaller when looking at a person wearing this type of lens.