Short Sighted Myopia Myopia (nearsightedness/short-sighted) occurs when the cornea is too steep, and rays of light are focused in front of the retina. Only close objects are sharply in focus. Glasses or contact lenses refocus light onto the retina. Another way of explaining it is that Myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eye is too long and/or the curvature of the cornea is too steep so the image falling directly on the retina is out of focus. It is common for nearsightedness to occur in adolescence or younger and may be noticed if you have difficulty reading signs or recognising people in the distance, particularly when there is poor lighting.