Article Credit: Canadian Association of Optometrists ( opto.ca ) What is myopia?1 Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a visual condition in which near objects are seen clearly, but distant objects are blurry and do not come into proper focus. Why does myopia occur? 1-4 When the eyeball is too long or if the front of the eye (cornea) is too curved, light entering the eye is not focused properly onto the back of the eye (retina). The retina is the sensory layer of the eye