What does the term "myopic" refer to in vision?

The term "myopic" refers to nearsightedness, a common refractive error in which distant objects appear blurred while close objects can be seen clearly. This condition occurs because the eyeball is either too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Individuals with myopia typically experience difficulty seeing faraway objects, such as road signs or the whiteboard in a classroom, which is a hallmark symptom of this visual condition.

In contrast, farsightedness, or hyperopia, involves difficulty seeing close objects clearly, while astigmatism is characterized by blurred vision due to an irregularly shaped cornea or lens. Color blindness involves difficulty distinguishing certain colors, which is unrelated to the focus and clarity of vision. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for recognizing and diagnosing refractive errors in vision.