Is myopia a hereditary disease?

I have myopia too, otherwise known as nearsightedness, and it does seem to be an inherited disease since your chances of getting it are higher with a parent with myopia. In my case, both me and my sister needed glasses at about 11 years old, the same age as both my parents did when they were young. So since both my parents wear glasses, my chances were very high. On the other hand, I have 4 kids but their father does NOT have myopia. So far only one of the four has needed glasses, and he needed them at age 10 (similar to when everyone in my family needed them). The chances of the kids having myopia are less than for me and my sister. I wear contacts mostly, and have grown accostomed to them since about age 15.

yes, I think it's hereditary. I am the victim of it !

It does appear to be in the genes. In Singapore we have a high incidence rate of children aged 7 onwards who are myopic. They are doing research and trying out different methods to try and reduce that sum. I have been wearing contact lenses and for some reason my degree dropped significantly. Perhaps the lens reshapes the eye ball. I asked the doctor and he said yes it does work on some people but not everyone sees an improvement in eyesight.

It is hereditary. Especially with Asian people, and Native Americans.

Yes, I worked for an optometrist for several years and it is often inherited. It's not something to worry too much about though. There is a surgery now (lasix) that will correct it and contact lens are not so bad.

Myopia of lower degrees say below -15-20 is CERTAINLY not passed thru heredity. Regarding very high myopias, that too in both parents, IT IS NOT CERTAIN and NO SCIENTIST CAN SAY WITH SURETY that it may go to next generation. Do not worry afterall there is LASIK LASER.

In the case of my family, it is not hereditary because both my parents had perfect eyesight. (now due to old age, they suffer from long sightedness) But my two siblings and I are short sighted. I think the three of us did not take good care of our eyes when we were young. We love reading and did not rest our eyes sufficiently.

Since the usual reason for myopia is a longer than usual eyeball (that causes the image to fall in front of the retina), it is hereditary in the same way that height is inherited :D.