If you are shortsighted, close items will be sharply in focus, but you have trouble seeing in the distance.
Myopia (nearsightedness or short-sighted) occurs when the cornea is too steep and rays of light are focused in front of the retina. Another way of explaining it is that the eye is too long and the curvature of the cornea is too steep so the image falling directly on the retina is out of focus.

