myopia

It is most often used for nearsightedness, a vision problem that makes faraway things look blurry. But it can also describe a person or plan that sees only what is right in front of them and misses what may happen later. Think of someone chasing quick results without noticing future problems; that is the figurative sense of the word. A politician who cares only about short-term popularity might be accused of political myopia.

Myopia primarily refers to a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurred while close objects remain clear. This happens because the eye focuses light in front of the retina instead of directly on it. It's often corrected with glasses or contact lenses, and sometimes through surgery. But myopia extends beyond just physical eyesight.

The word also carries a figurative meaning: a lack of foresight, understanding, or broad perspective. Someone exhibiting "myopia" in this sense is narrow-minded, unable to see the bigger picture, or focused solely on immediate concerns. For example, a business leader with financial myopia might cut essential research and development to boost short-term profits, ultimately harming the company's long-term success.

Historically, "myopia" was sometimes used to describe intellectual limitations more generally, but today it's most often applied to situations where someone lacks strategic thinking or fails to anticipate consequences. You might read about "policy myopia" when discussing government decisions that seem short-sighted and ineffective.

So whether you're talking about needing glasses to see the road ahead, or a lack of vision in planning for the future, "myopia" describes a limitation in seeing things clearly – both literally and figuratively.