Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is the refractive error that causes difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. In this condition, light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it. This focusing error means that while nearby objects may be viewed clearly, more distant items appear blurred. Myopia is commonly caused by an elongated shape of the eyeball or an excessively curved cornea.

Understanding the visual characteristics associated with myopia is essential for recognizing symptoms and directing patients toward appropriate corrective lenses or treatments. Corrective lenses, such as concave glasses, help to diverge light rays before they enter the eye, allowing for clearer vision at a distance.

Other refractive errors, such as hyperopia, involve difficulty focusing on nearby objects; astigmatism is characterized by blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens, affecting vision at all distances; and presbyopia is an age-related condition where the eye loses the ability to change focus on near objects, impacting reading ability and other close-up tasks. These conditions differ significantly from myopia in terms of their effects on vision.