short-sightedness

A student squints at the chalkboard due to short-sightedness.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ophthalmological condition: "short-sightedness" (also known as myopia) is a refractive error of the eye where distant objects appear blurry while close objects are seen clearly. This occurs because the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina.
   • Lack of foresight: "short-sightedness" also refers to a failure to consider the long-term consequences of actions; a narrow or limited perspective that prioritises immediate gains over future outcomes.

Usage Examples

• Ophthalmological condition:

  • Her short-sightedness was diagnosed when she struggled to read the board at school. (She has difficulty seeing distant objects clearly.)
  • Corrective lenses can effectively manage short-sightedness. (Glasses or contact lenses help focus light properly on the retina.)

• Lack of foresight:

  • The company’s short-sightedness led to environmental damage that will take decades to repair. (The company focused on immediate profits without considering future harm.)
  • Political short-sightedness often results in policies that solve today's problems but create tomorrow's crises. (A lack of long-term planning in governance.)

Advanced Usage

• "to suffer from short-sightedness": to be affected by myopia or a lack of foresight.

  • Many people suffer from short-sightedness without realising it, both in vision and in decision-making. (The phrase can be used literally or metaphorically.)

• "economic short-sightedness": a specific type of lack of foresight in financial or business contexts.

  • The government's economic short-sightedness ignored the need for sustainable infrastructure investment. (Prioritising short-term budget cuts over long-term growth.)

Variants and Related Words

• Short-sighted (adj): having or showing short-sightedness.

  • He is short-sighted and needs glasses for driving. (Referring to vision.)
  • Her short-sighted decision to cut costs led to higher expenses later. (Referring to a lack of foresight.)

• Short-sightedly (adv): in a manner showing short-sightedness.

  • The committee short-sightedly rejected the proposal without considering its future benefits. (Acting without long-term thinking.)

Synonyms

• Myopia: the medical term for short-sightedness (vision).
• Nearsightedness: a common synonym for myopia.
• Lack of foresight: a phrase used for the non-medical meaning.
• Imprudence: lack of caution or consideration for the future (for the non-medical meaning).

Related Idioms

• "can't see the forest for the trees": focusing on small details to the detriment of the bigger picture.

  • The manager's short-sightedness meant he couldn't see the forest for the trees, ignoring the team's overall morale. (He was too focused on immediate tasks.)

• "penny wise, pound foolish": being careful with small amounts of money but wasteful with large amounts.

  • His short-sightedness in refusing to invest in training was a case of being penny wise, pound foolish. (Saving money now cost more later.)