myopic

adjective

my·​o·​pic mī-ˈō-pik  -ˈä-pik 

1

: affected by myopia : of, relating to, or exhibiting myopia : nearsighted

It is likely the FDA will initially approve the procedure for severely myopic patients, though it is unclear what range of impaired vision will be included.

—Rhonda Rundle

In some eyes, the lens does not become flat enough to bring far objects in focus, although it focuses near objects well; people with such eyes are said to be myopic (nearsighted).

—Rita L. Atkinson et al.

2

: lacking in foresight or discernment : narrow in perspective and without concern for broader implications

Higher learning can offer individuals and societies a depth and breadth of vision absent from the inevitably myopic present.

—Drew Gilpin Faust

But only a myopic angler would fail to recognize the alarming signals in those unusual conditions.

—Pete Bodo

Like most who mutilate Chopin, he was musically myopic, fawning over each note instead of seeking the longer shape of a phrase, its arc and context, where the real beauty lay.

—Andrew Corsello

When he ran again in 2013, this time without a primary opponent, his campaign had an almost myopic focus on a subject dear to Republicans: job creation.

—Andy Kroll

myopically

mī-ˈō-pi-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈä-

adverb

After the Revolution the newly independent American states, governed by large elected legislatures, formed a loose confederation in which each state myopically pursued its own highly localized interests.

—Russell Baker

Did you know?

Myopia is a condition in which visual images come to a focus in front of the retina of the eye, resulting in defective vision of distant objects. Those with myopia can be referred to as myopic (or, less formally, nearsighted). Myopic can also describe someone who has trouble seeing things from a different perspective or considering the future consequences before acting. Myopic and myopia come from Greek myōps, which is based on myein (meaning "to close") and ōps ("eye").

Synonyms

• nearsighted
• shortsighted

Examples of myopic in a Sentence

he became so myopic that he finally broke down and got contact lenses

the myopic city designers who did not plan for growth

Recent Examples on the Web

From myopic confinement to the outer reaches of space, the view from Devil’s Island and French Guiana has spread significantly outwards. —Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 13 Dec. 2024

The markets are often myopic and tend to extrapolate short-term trends for the long run. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Yes, some have been worse than others, but a child’s perspective is incredibly (and often thankfully) myopic. —Caleb Harris, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

Relying too much and too often on the same inner circle is a recipe for groupthink, which leads to myopic decision-making. —John Baldoni, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Medical Definition

myopic

1 of 2 adjective

my·​o·​pic -ˈō-pik  -ˈäp-ik 

: affected by myopia : of, relating to, or exhibiting myopia

myopically

-(ə-)lē 

adverb

myopic

2 of 2 noun

: myope