Can't see the board
clearly? It could be
Myopia.
Myopia (short-sightedness) makes distant objects blurry while close ones remain clear. It affects 1 in 3 people and is now one of the fastest-growing eye conditions in India, especially in school-age children.
Accurate Diagnosis
Computerised autorefraction & retinoscopy for precise prescription measurement.
Full Correction Options
Spectacles, contact lenses, orthokeratology, and refractive surgery: all under one roof.
Myopia Control
Evidence-based slowing of progression in children using atropine therapy and special lenses.
LASIK Surgery
Bladeless LASIK to permanently free eligible adults from glasses or contact lenses.
How do you know if you're short-sighted?
Myopia symptoms are often first noticed in childhood. A child squinting at the classroom board, sitting closer to the TV, or reporting headaches after school could all be early signs.
Blurry distance vision
Difficulty reading road signs, classroom boards, or movie subtitles. Objects far away look smeared or doubled.
Most commonSquinting
Habitually narrowing the eyes to see distant things. Squinting temporarily sharpens vision by reducing the pupil opening, a classic myopia behaviour.
Early signHeadaches & eye strain
Constant effort to focus on distant objects leads to frontal headaches, especially after school or driving. The eye muscles overwork to compensate.
Common in childrenSitting too close to screens
Moving closer to the TV or smartphone screen is a behavioural compensation. Parents often notice this before the child reports blurred vision.
Behavioural signNight vision difficulty
Driving or walking at night becomes harder, lights appear haloed or starbursting. High myopes (> to 6D) experience this more intensely.
Higher prescriptionsAcademic difficulties
Children with undetected myopia may struggle to copy from the board, miss instructions, or appear inattentive, often misread as behaviour problems.
Watch in childrenWhy does short-sightedness happen?
Myopia occurs when the eyeball grows too long or the cornea has too much curvature. Light focuses in front of the retina instead of directly on it, giving you a clear close view but blurry distance vision.
It has both genetic and environmental causes. If both parents are myopic, a child has a 50 to 60% chance of developing it. Screen time, near work, and limited outdoor time accelerate onset and progression.
Learn about our LASIK programmeAxial elongation
The most common cause, the eyeball grows longer than normal, so the focal point falls short of the retina. This is usually irreversible once the eye has grown.
Excessive corneal curvature
A steeper-than-normal cornea bends light too much, causing it to converge before reaching the retina, refractive myopia, often correctable with LASIK.
Genetics
Myopia runs in families. Having one myopic parent doubles the risk; two myopic parents increase it 3 to 5 times. Certain ethnic backgrounds (South Asian, East Asian) carry higher genetic predisposition.
Screen time & near work
Extended near work, reading, devices, studying, puts sustained focusing demand on the eye. Studies show >2 hours of screen use daily accelerates myopia progression in children.
Lack of outdoor light
Dopamine released by the retina in bright outdoor light slows axial elongation. Children who spend <1 hour outdoors daily have significantly higher myopia rates.
Are you more likely to develop myopia?
Myopia has both genetic and lifestyle risk factors. Understanding your risk helps you act early, especially for children.
Every to 1 dioptre increase in myopia raises the lifetime risk of retinal detachment by 30%. Early intervention matters.
High myopia (above to 6D) significantly increases the risk of serious complications including retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Slowing progression in children is not just about comfort. It's about protecting lifelong vision.
Correcting & controlling myopia
There is no single cure, but multiple evidence-based options can correct vision, slow progression, or permanently reduce dependence on glasses.
Vision correction
Choose the correction that fits your prescription, age and lifestyle. Adults with stable prescriptions can explore permanent surgical options.
Myopia control
When a child's prescription is worsening faster than to 0.5D per year, slowing that progression reduces their lifetime risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and macular problems.
Low-dose atropine (0.01 to 0.05%) applied nightly slows progression by up to 60% with minimal side effects.
2+ hours of outdoor exposure daily reduces onset risk by 50%. Natural light triggers dopamine that slows axial elongation.
Specially designed overnight rigid lenses gently reshape the cornea while sleeping, giving clear daytime vision and slowing progression.
Common questions about myopia
Answers from Dr Vasantha Gowri based on the most frequent concerns from patients in Perambur and Chennai.
Medical sources
- American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye health information.
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Eye conditions and diseases.
- All India Ophthalmological Society. aios.org.
Book your appointment
Clear vision starts with the right diagnosis
Whether you're a parent concerned about your child's eye power, an adult tired of glasses, or someone whose prescription keeps changing, we have answers and solutions. Walk in or book a slot at Aadithya Eye Care, Perambur.