Is short sightedness genetic?
There is a substantial inherited component, and the chances are higher when one or both parents are short sighted. Environment also matters, with sustained near work and less time outdoors associated with earlier onset in children.
- Subject
- Vision problems
- Topic
- Myopia (short sightedness)
- Kind of question
- Other questions
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2026
What this answer depends on
- Family history
- The child’s age when the prescription was first noticed
- How much time is spent outdoors versus on close work
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Where this answer sits
It is one of 483 answers in the vision and eye health knowledge base, filed under Vision problems & prescriptions in Myopia (short sightedness) . The subject page carries the answers either side of it, and the hub is searchable.
Subjects this question touches
The pages that answer the subject behind the question, rather than the question itself.
- Condition Myopia (short sightedness)
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
General answers cannot tell you what is happening in your own eyes. Only an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can do that.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- Eye Health Information
Condition-by-condition eye health information from a US government research institute, written for patients rather than for clinicians.
Used for Plain-language explanations of eye conditions and their symptoms; Healthy vision and screening guidance.
Link checked 23 September 2026