Definition

Noun: 1. A literal medical condition of the eyes: A severe visual impairment where a person loses most or all of their peripheral vision, seeing only what is directly in front of them as if looking through a tunnel. 2. A figurative mental state: A narrow or limited point of view; an inability or unwillingness to see, understand, or consider alternative ideas, perspectives, or the broader context of a situation.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Medical):
  • The disease causes tunnel vision, making it dangerous for him to drive.
  • Patients with advanced glaucoma often experience tunnel vision.
• Figurative (Mental):
  • The manager's tunnel vision on quarterly profits prevented him from investing in long-term employee development.
  • In debates, it's important to avoid tunnel vision and listen to opposing arguments.

Advanced Usage

• "To have tunnel vision": This is the most common way to use the term figuratively, describing a person's state of mind.
  • She had such tunnel vision about winning the championship that she ignored her own health.
• Used as a modifier: It can describe a narrow approach.
  • The committee's tunnel-vision approach failed to address the root causes of the problem.

Variants and Related Words

• Tunnel-visioned (adj): Having or characterized by tunnel vision.
  • His tunnel-visioned focus on a single solution was frustrating to the team.

Synonyms

• Literal: Constricted visual field, peripheral vision loss.
• Figurative: Narrow-mindedness, closed-mindedness, myopia (figurative), insularity, single-mindedness (can be positive or negative).

Antonyms

• Figurative: Open-mindedness, broad-mindedness, perspective, awareness, holistic view.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Can't see the forest for the trees": Similar to figurative tunnel vision; being so focused on small details that you miss the bigger picture.
• "Wearing blinders/blinkers": Being deliberately unaware of things outside your immediate focus, like a horse wearing blinders.

Noun

1. visual impairment involving a loss of peripheral vision