What is the common name for the condition medically known as myopia?

The common name for the condition medically known as myopia is nearsightedness.

A person with myopia can usually see nearby objects clearly, while distant objects look blurred. This happens when incoming light is focused in front of the retina rather than directly on it, often because the eyeball is too long or the eye’s focusing structures bend light too strongly.

Myopia is a refractive error, not the same as night blindness or color blindness. Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is its optical opposite: distant objects may be clearer than near ones, depending on the person’s age and degree of correction. Eyeglasses and contact lenses correct myopia with concave, or diverging, lenses.

The word myopia comes from Greek roots associated with closing or narrowing the eyes, an action people may use when trying to see distant details. Genetics influence risk, and childhood visual habits and time spent outdoors are also studied in relation to its development. Severe myopia can raise the risk of retinal and other eye complications.