In nearsighted vision, where is the image formed relative to the retina?

• A. In front of the retina
• B. On the retina
• C. Behind the retina
• D. Inside the optic nerve

Answer: (A)

Nearsightedness happens when the eye focuses light before it reaches the retina, so the image forms in front of the retina. This often happens because the eyeball is a bit too long or the cornea is too curved, causing distant light to cross and form a sharp point ahead of the retina instead of where the retina sits. Because the retina is the surface that records sharp images, forming the image in front leads to blurry distant vision. Corrective lenses are concave; they spread light slightly so the focus moves back onto the retina, restoring clear distance vision. If the image formed on the retina, vision would be normal; if it formed behind the retina, that would be farsightedness; and the optic nerve isn’t where the eye normally forms the image.