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

/ maɪˈɒpɪk; maɪˈəʊpɪə /

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

• myopic, adjective
• myˈopically, adverb

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

Some early research also suggests that excessive screen time during the pandemic may even be leading to increased rates of myopia, or nearsightedness.

From Time

Nonetheless, there’s an element of myopia here, and being excessively cautious can prevent organizations from realizing the benefits of data-driven collaboration, particularly when it comes to software and product development.

From TechCrunch

You end up seriously farsighted, focused on the mysteries and panoramic wonders, with a nearsighted myopia to the flaws in the frame.

From Outside Online

In studies, they dramatically reduced the progression of myopia.

From Popular-Science

In studies, the lenses reduced the progression of myopia by 59 percent over a three-year period.

From Popular-Science

But not all political action fueled by moral myopia is wrong.

From The Daily Beast

But while this tension is old, American Jewish groups did not always respond to it with the moral myopia they display today.

From The Daily Beast

Ezra wonders why the GOP would embrace what he deems "ratio-myopia."

From The Daily Beast

The police barricades throughout lower Manhattan are a rebuke to the larger lessons of 9/11, a sign of civic myopia.

From The Daily Beast

Beltway myopia and overheated rhetoric could trigger another worldwide credit crisis, warns Zachary Karabell.

From The Daily Beast

The examination showed for the right eye hypermetropia 1·5, for the left myopia 3·5 D.; full acuity of vision on both sides.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore we see the same form of squint arise less often in emmetropia (see Case 45) when childhood is past, than in myopia.

From Project Gutenberg

Full visual acuity on both sides—in the first examination slight myopia - ·75 D. is specified, afterwards emmetropia.

From Project Gutenberg

Those cases deserve special consideration in which emmetropia is present in one eye, in the other myopia.

From Project Gutenberg

Slight degrees of one-sided myopia reconcile themselves with the continuance of a normal binocular act of vision.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness