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

Contributing to the confusion is how the mainstream news media’s unhealthy obsession with polling has created a type of tunnel vision and myopia where other lenses — that would likely provide better insights — for understanding the Age of Trump and the larger democracy crisis have been mostly ignored.

From Salon

It just seems as though through habit, habituation, comfort-sleepwalking, or myopia, we are so narrowly focused on this small tranche of cases and still treat the justices as oracles.

From Slate

Myopia cannot be cured but it can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

From BBC

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

Myopia usually starts during primary school years and tends to worsen until the eye has stopped growing, at about 20 years of age.

From BBC

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness