Which term describes nearsightedness?

• A. Hyperopia
• B. Astigmatism
• C. Presbyopia
• D. Myopia

Answer: (D)

Nearsightedness is called myopia. In myopia, distant objects appear blurry because the eye focuses images in front of the retina instead of directly on it. This usually happens when the eyeball is a bit too long or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light to converge too soon. The result is clear vision up close but blurry vision at a distance. Corrective lenses with diverging (concave) power spread the light slightly before it enters the eye, pushing the focal point back onto the retina so distance vision improves.

Hyperopia describes farsightedness, where nearby objects are blurry because the eye focuses light behind the retina. Astigmatism involves an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing distorted vision at all distances. Presbyopia is age-related loss of the eye's ability to focus on close objects, typically developing with aging.