myopia

/maɪˈoʊpiə/

/maɪˈʌʊpiə/

Other forms: myopias

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.

Definitions of myopia

1. noun

   (ophthalmology) eyesight abnormality resulting from the eye's faulty refractive ability; distant objects appear blurred
   synonyms: nearsightedness, shortsightedness

   antonyms:

   hyperopia

   abnormal condition in which vision for distant objects is better than for near objects

   type of:

   ametropia

   (ophthalmology) faulty refraction of light rays in the eye as in astigmatism or myopia
2. noun

   a lack of discernment, insight, or foresight
   type of:

   imprudence

   a lack of caution in practical affairs