Which condition is characterized by the eye's inability to focus on distant objects?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is characterized by the eye's inability to focus on distant objects clearly. This condition occurs when the eyeball is too long, or the cornea is too curvy, causing light rays entering the eye to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, individuals with myopia can see nearby objects clearly but struggle with clarity for distant objects.

Understanding this condition is critical for both diagnosis and treatment. Patients with myopia often benefit from corrective lenses or refractive surgery to adjust the focal point of light entering the eye, allowing them to see distant objects more clearly. This condition is distinct from other refractive errors like hyperopia, where the issue lies in focusing on close objects, and astigmatism, which involves irregular curvature of the cornea or lens that distorts vision at all distances. Presbyopia, on the other hand, is an age-related condition that affects the ability to focus on near tasks.