myopia

[ mahy-oh-pee-uh ]

/ maɪˈoʊ pi ə /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR myopia ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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 (opposed to hyperopia).

lack of foresight or discernment; obtuseness.

narrow-mindedness; intolerance.

Nearby words

myopathic, myopathy, myope, myopericarditis, myophily, myopia, myopic, myopic astigmatism, myopic crescent, myoplasm, myoplastic

Origin of myopia

1685–95; < New Latin < Greek myōpía, equivalent to myōp- (stem of mýōps) near-sighted, literally, blinking (mý(ein) to shut + ṓps eye) + -ia -ia

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for myopia

For our vicar, in spite of a tendency to myopia, conceives it his duty to encourage cricket by his participation.
Certain Personal Matters|H. G. Wells
Usually a patient with about 22 D. of myopia is rendered emmetropic by the operation.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various
As, however, in spite of this, myopia is present in about 60 per cent.
Schweigger on Squint|C. Schweigger
(a) In myopia, emmetropia, and doubtful hypermetropia, with convergent and divergent squint together 329 cases.
Schweigger on Squint|C. Schweigger

I knew from personal experience what a handicap and an embarrassment it is to be afflicted with myopia.
War Letters of a Public-School Boy|Paul Jones.

British Dictionary definitions for myopia

myopia

/ (maɪˈəʊpɪə) /

noun

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

Derived Forms

myopic (maɪˈɒpɪk), adjectivemyopically, adverb

Word Origin for myopia

C18: via New Latin from Greek muōps short-sighted, from mūein to close (the eyes), blink + ōps eye

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for myopia

myopia

[ mī-ō′pē-ə ]

n.

A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness; shortsightedness.

Related forms

my•op′ic (-ŏp′ĭk, -ō′pĭk) adj.

Science definitions for myopia

myopia

[ mī-ō′pē-ə ]

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. Also called nearsightedness Compare hyperopia.

Culture definitions for myopia

myopia

[ (meye-oh-pee-uh) ]

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.

Note

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.”