OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What does it mean if someone is short-sighted?

1. They can see distant objects clearly

2. They are unable to focus on nearby objects

3. They are unable to focus on distant objects

4. They have perfect vision

The correct answer is: They are unable to focus on distant objects

Being short-sighted, or myopic, means that a person has difficulty seeing distant objects clearly while nearby objects appear sharp. This condition arises when the eyeball is slightly elongated or the cornea has too much curvature, causing light rays entering the eye to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. As a result, securing a clear image of far-away objects becomes a challenge. People with short-sightedness typically need corrective lenses or surgery to help focus light correctly on the retina, allowing them to see distant objects more clearly. Other options describe different visual conditions; for instance, the ability to see distant objects clearly indicates good vision or the opposite condition, known as far-sightedness, affecting proximity focus.