What condition occurs when rays of light from a distant source focus in front of the retina?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when the rays of light from a distant source are focused in front of the retina. This happens because the eyeball is too long or the cornea has too much curvature, so light entering the eye is bent excessively. As a result, distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. Individuals with myopia often require corrective lenses, such as concave glasses, to help reposition the focal point onto the retina for clearer vision.

In contrast, hyperopia involves light focusing behind the retina, while astigmatism is characterized by an irregular curvature of the cornea causing distorted vision. Presbyopia is a condition typically associated with aging, where the eye's lens loses its ability to focus on close objects, resulting in difficulty with near vision. Understanding these differences is crucial for recognizing and diagnosing refractive errors in vision.