myopia

American  

[mahy-oh-pee-uh] / maɪˈoʊ pi ə /

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.

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myopia British  

/ maɪˈəʊpɪə, maɪˈɒpɪk /

noun

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

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myopia Scientific  

/ 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

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myopia Cultural  

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.

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Discover More

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

• myopic adjective
• myopically adverb

Etymology

Origin of myopia

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. )

Compare meaning

How does myopia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• astigmatism vs. myopia

Explanation

Myopia is nearsightedness, which means you see things more clearly that are closer to your eye. You probably suffer from myopia if you walk into the living room and notice the chair in front of you but not the chair ten feet away. If you have myopia, things farther away look out of focus. Also, this can mean narrow-mindedness and intolerance. Due to the first kind of myopia, someone might always hold the menu two centimeters from their eyeballs at restaurants. Due to the second kind, someone might avoid people with different opinions from their own.

Example Sentences

Under this proposed mechanism, myopia may develop when insufficient light reaches the retina during sustained close-up work in low-light settings.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

For years, the sharp rise in myopia -- or nearsightedness -- has largely been blamed on growing screen use, particularly among children and young adults.

From Science Daily • Feb. 19, 2026

The Chinese Communist Party proposed a five-year plan to reduce the prevalence of myopia among children by at least 0.5% annually by 2023.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

The incidence of myopia is highest in Southeast Asia—maybe not surprising given the heavy cultural emphasis on academics—where an estimated 80% of students who complete 12 years of school are myopic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

He sat as stiffly as he walked, straight as a pole, his head thrown slightly back and to one side, with a sidelong glance that held a mixture of pride, distrust, and myopia.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness