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

Example Sentences

Ophthalmologists are raising alarms about an epidemic of childhood myopia.

From The Wall Street Journal

It stands to reason that the momentum effect needs to be updated to reflect investors accelerating myopia.

From MarketWatch

“We’ve fallen into a kind of trade and technology myopia,” he added.

From Los Angeles Times

Danny, 13, wears contact lenses that treat myopia and has seen for himself the difference they can make.

From BBC

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

From BBC

Related Words

• narrow-mindedness