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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffNearsightedness may be associated with several complications, such as:
- Reduced quality of life. Uncorrected nearsightedness can affect your quality of life. You might not be able to perform a task as well as you wish, and your limited vision may detract from your enjoyment of day-to-day activities.
- Eyestrain. Squinting to see in the distance can cause eyestrain and headaches.
- Impaired safety. For your own safety and that of others, don't drive or operate heavy equipment if you have an uncorrected vision problem.
- Glaucoma. Severe nearsightedness increases your risk of developing glaucoma, a potentially serious eye disease.
- Retinal tear and detachment. If you're significantly nearsighted, it's possible that the retina of your eye is thin. The thinner your retina, the higher your risk of developing a retinal tear or retinal detachment. If you experience a sudden onset of flashes, floaters or a dark curtain or shadow across part of your eye, seek medical assistance immediately. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency, and time is critical. Unless the detached retina is promptly surgically reattached, this condition can cause permanent loss of vision in the affected eye.
