Myopia

<div class="ssanz"><div class="ss-stripe bg-light_grey"><div class="container--skinny"><h1 class="h3">Myopia (short sight)</h1><p>Myopia is a very common cause of blurred vision.</p></div></div><div class="ss-stripe bg-xl_grey"><div class="container--skinny"><div class="row"><div class="col"><h2 class="h4">Short sightedness</h2><p>A person with short sight will be able to see things up close quite clearly, like when they’re reading. But for tasks that require distance vision, like driving or watching TV, their vision is blurred.</p><p>It’s common for people without diagnosed myopia to also experience symptoms like headaches or eyestrain when trying to focus on things far away. Or for children, it can lead to other eye problems in early life like a squint or lazy eye.</p><p class="mb-5">In some cases, people with more severe myopia are also more likely to experience conditions such as <a href="/eye-health/eye-conditions/glaucoma">glaucoma</a>, <a href="/eye-health/eye-conditions/cataracts">cataracts</a>, or <a href="/eye-health/eye-conditions/detached-retina">retinal detachment</a>.</p><div class="video_container"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JYthUCj-UdI?cc_load_policy=1&rel=0showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" style="width: 1px; min-width: 100%;"></iframe></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ss-stripe bg-light_grey"><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6 d-flex"><div class="pb-4 pb-md-0 pr-md-2"><h2 class="h5">What causes short sight?</h2><p>Myopia occurs when the eye is effectively too long – so the distance between the cornea (the clear window at the front of the eye) and the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) is too far. This means that light entering the eye is focused before it reaches the retina, which causes blurred vision.</p><p>In some cases, it could be due to the shape of the cornea, or the thickness of the lens inside the eye.</p><p>There is a huge amount of research, both past and present into the causes of Myopia. It is currently believed that hereditary factors are the most important. You are far more likely to develop Myopia if one of your parents has it. However the picture of who will or will not develop myopia is far from clear.</p></div></div><div class="col-md-6 d-flex"><div class="pl-md-2"><h2 class="h5">What help is available?</h2><p>Short sight is usually detected quite early in life during a comprehensive eye test, which will test your vision as well as examining your eye in detail.</p><p>The good news is that it can easily be corrected with the use of glasses or contact lenses with a minus lens power, like -3.00. This means the lens has a concave shape (curved inwards), which helps to improve your focus.</p><p>Adults also have the option of having laser eye surgery to correct their myopia. Your optometrist will be able to help you choose the right option for you.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

<div class="ssanz"><div class="ss-stripe bg-big_stone"><div class="container--skinny text-sm-center"><h2 class="h4">Did you know?</h2><p class="mb-4">Eye tests are bulk billed to Medicare so there are no out of pocket expenses for you.</p><div class="row mt-4"><div class="col mb-3"><a class="btn--primary btn--full-width" href="/eye-health/eye-conditions">See more eye conditions</a></div><div class="col"><a class="btn--primary btn--full-width" href="/stores">Book an appointment</a></div></div></div></div></div>

<div class="ssanz"><div class="ss-stripe bg-vi_grey"><div class="container"><div class="row"> <div class="col"> <h2 class="h5 mb-4">Frequently asked questions</h2> </div> </div><form id="dev-form--ask text" method="get" action="/help-and-faqs/search"><div class="row"><div class="col-12 col-md-9"><div class="input-group"><input class="form-control hasPlaceholder" name="search_api_views_fulltext" type="text" placeholder="Enter keyword or question"> <span class="input-group-btn"><input class="btn--primary" type="submit"></span></div></div><div class="col-12 col-md-3 d-flex align-items-center mt-4 mt-md-0"><p><a href="/help-and-faqs" class="btn_tertiary"><span class="btn_tertiary__label">See all FAQs</span></a></p></div></div></form></div></div></div>

<div class="ssanz"><div class="ss-stripe bg-light_grey"><div class="container"><div class="row cards"><div class="col-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-4 d-flex"><a href="/eye-health/eye-tests/do-i-need-an-eye-test" class="card"><img src="https://content.specsavers.com/anz/au/assets/img/eye_health/landing/eye-health_eyetest-banner-545x273.jpg" alt="" class="img-fluid" loading="lazy" width="545" height="273"><div class="card__padder"><div class="card__header"><h2 class="card__title">Why do I need an eye&nbsp;test?</h2></div><div class="card__footer"><span class="card__button btn_tertiary"><span class="btn_tertiary__label">Find out more</span></span></div></div></a></div><div class="col-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-4 d-flex"><a href="/eye-health/eye-tests/your-store-visit-explained" class="card"><picture class=""><img src="https://content.specsavers.com/anz/au/assets/img/eye_health/landing/eye-health_storevisit-banner-545x273.jpg" alt="" class="img-fluid" loading="lazy" width="545" height="273"></picture><div class="card__padder"><div class="card__header"><h2 class="card__title">Your store visit&nbsp;explained</h2></div><div class="card__footer"><span class="card__button btn_tertiary"><span class="btn_tertiary__label">Learn more</span></span></div></div></a></div><div class="col-12 col-sm-6 col-lg-4 d-flex"><a href="/eye-health/eye-tests" class="card"><picture class="bg-light_grey"><img src="https://content.specsavers.com/anz/au/assets/img/eye_health/landing/eye-health_eyetestinfo-banner-545x273.jpg" alt="" class="img-fluid" loading="lazy" width="545" height="273"></picture><div class="card__padder"><div class="card__header"><h2 class="card__title">Your guide to&nbsp;eye&nbsp;tests</h2></div><div class="card__footer"><span class="card__button btn_tertiary"><span class="btn_tertiary__label">Find out more</span></span></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div>

<div class="ssanz"> <div class="ss-stripe--smaller bg-xl_grey"> <div class="container--skinny text-center"> <div class="accordion js-accordion" data-allow-multiple > <div class="accordion__item js-accordion__item"> <button class="accordion__toggle js-accordion__toggle" aria-expanded> <h3 class="h5 accordion__heading">Terms and conditions</h3> </button> <div class="accordion__collapser js-accordion__collapser"> <div class="accordion__content js-accordion__content"> <p>Listed on a valid Medicare card without Optometry restrictions. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>