myopia

[mahy-oh-pee-uh]

noun

1. Ophthalmology.,  a condition of the eye in which parallel rays are focused in front of the retina, objects being seen distinctly only when near to the eye; nearsightedness (hyperopia ).

2. lack of foresight or discernment; obtuseness.

3. narrow-mindedness; intolerance.

myopia

/ maɪˈəʊpɪə, maɪˈɒpɪk /

noun

1. inability to see distant objects clearly because the images are focused in front of the retina; short-sightedness

myopia

1. A defect of the eye that causes light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, resulting in an inability to see distant objects clearly. Myopia is often caused by an elongated eyeball or a misshapen lens.

2. Also called nearsightedness

3. Compare hyperopia

myopia

1. Nearsightedness. Myopia is a visual defect in which light that enters the eye is focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it, so that distant objects appear blurred. Myopia can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or LASIK.

The term is often used to indicate an inability to see into the future: “The new policy is incredibly myopic, and puts future generations at a great disadvantage for the sake of a few short-term gains.”

Other Word Forms

• myopically adverb
• myopic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of myopia¹

First recorded in 1685–95; from New Latin, from Greek myōpía, from myōp- (stem of mýōps, “nearsighted,” literally, “blinking,” from mý(ein) “to shut” + ṓps “eye, face”) + -ia -ia; eye ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of myopia¹

C18: via New Latin from Greek muōps short-sighted, from mūein to close (the eyes), blink + ōps eye

Example Sentences

The treatment - known as myopia management - can slow or stop the short-sightedness from getting worse.

From BBC

Other specs tech is even slowing down the progression of eye conditions such as myopia, beyond just correcting for them.

From BBC

Or maybe our stubborn myopia is what this Superman means when he says, “I screw up all the time but that is being human.”

From Los Angeles Times

Near-sightedness, formally known as myopia, occurs when the eye elongates, causing light to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, producing blurry vision.

From Salon

They cannot and will not see it, and their myopia stands at odds with the serenity one can achieve by accepting that there are forces far greater than themselves.

From Salon

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness www.thesaurus.com