Myopia is a medical term that refers to a common vision condition, often known as nearsightedness. It means that a person can see objects that are close clearly, but objects that are farther away appear blurred. This occurs because the eye is either too long in shape or the cornea is too curved, which causes light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Myopia can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or refractive surgery.
The word "myopia" comes from the Greek word "muōps," meaning "nearsighted" or "squinting." The root "muō" means "to close" or "to squint," which reflects how a person with myopia may squint to see distant objects clearly.