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  • How can you tell pseudomyopia from true myopia?


    Question:

    How does one distinguish true myopia (nearsightedness) from pseudomyopia in a 7-year-old child?


    Answer:

    Pseudomyopia is usually accommodation (eye focusing) which does not relax easily when looking far away. Thus, the child appears to be myopic and has reduced distance vision. The diagnosis is made by a cycloplegic refraction test (test to see if vision correction is needed) after using eye drops which dilate the pupil and also relax the ciliary muscle within the eye. If no nearsightedness persists, then you may have pseudomyopia.



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