Definition

1. Noun:
   • A condition of the eye where close objects are seen clearly, but distant objects appear blurry: Nearsightedness is an eyesight abnormality caused by the eye's inability to correctly focus light on the retina, resulting in clear vision for near objects and blurred vision for far objects.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • His nearsightedness meant he needed glasses to drive.
  • Laser surgery can correct nearsightedness for many patients.
  • The most common symptom of nearsightedness is difficulty seeing the whiteboard in class.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In ophthalmology, "nearsightedness" is the common term for the condition myopia. It is formally defined as a refractive error where light focuses in front of the retina.
  • The optometrist diagnosed her with progressive nearsightedness.

Variants and Related Words

• Myopia (n): The medical and formal term for nearsightedness.
  • High myopia requires strong corrective lenses.
• Nearsighted (adj): Describing a person who has this condition.
  • She is nearsighted and wears contact lenses.

Synonyms

• Myopia: The direct technical synonym.
• Short-sightedness: Primarily used in British English, with the same meaning.

Antonyms

• Farsightedness (n): The condition where distant objects are clearer than near ones; the technical term is hyperopia or hypermetropia.
  • Farsightedness is the opposite visual defect to nearsightedness.
• Presbyopia (n): Age-related farsightedness caused by loss of elasticity in the eye's lens.

Related Phrases

• Correct nearsightedness: To fix or improve the condition, typically with lenses or surgery.
  • The goal of the procedure is to correct nearsightedness.
• Suffer from nearsightedness: To have this visual condition.
  • A significant portion of the population suffers from nearsightedness.

Noun

1. (ophthalmology) eyesight abnormality resulting from the eye's faulty refractive ability; distant objects appear blurred