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

/ mī-ō′pē-ə /

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.

Notes

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.”

Derived Forms

• myˈopically, 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

Special lenses can slow down the development of myopia in young children by encouraging the eye to grow differently, but they are expensive.

From BBC

Unfortunately, many American business leaders have recently developed a kind of myopia, miscalculating what politics, and which political leaders, will truly support their long-term success.

From New York Times

The rest of us, the masses, are worse off for their supreme myopia.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s because myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is at epidemic levels, according to Rochester Institute of Technology professor Andrew Herbert.

From Seattle Times

Individuals with the alcohol-protective alleles also reported totally unexpected differences, such as more malaria, more myopia and several cancers, particularly more skin cancer and lung cancer, and more migraine with aura.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness