What is the medical term for nearsightedness, where the image is focused in front of the retina?

The medical term for nearsightedness, where light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina, is myopia. This condition occurs when the eyeball is either too long or the cornea has too much curvature, which prevents the light rays from focusing directly on the retina. Individuals with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, while distant objects appear blurry, making it essential to use corrective lenses, such as glasses or contact lenses, to adjust the light’s focusing point.

In contrast, hyperopia refers to farsightedness, where the image is focused behind the retina; astigmatism results from an irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, causing distorted vision at all distances; and presbyopia, which is age-related, affects the eye's ability to focus on close objects due to a loss of elasticity in the lens. Each of these conditions describes different visual impairments and their underlying causes.