Is Being Short Sighted (Myopia) Hereditary?

Is being short sighted (myopia) hereditary?

Yes. Myopia runs in families and usually appears in childhood. Sometimes the condition plateaus, or sometimes it worsens with age.

People who are nearsighted have what is called a refractive error. This means that the light rays bend incorrectly into the eye to transmit images to the brain. In people with myopia, the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so the light entering the eye is not focused correctly. Light rays of images focus in front of the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye, rather than directly on the retina, causing blurred vision.

For more information, read our full medical article on myopia symptoms and treatment.