Myopia is a defect of vision in which a person has difficulty seeing distant objects clearly; this condition of the eye is also commonly known by which name?

Introduction / Context:
Myopia is one of the most common refractive errors of the eye and is frequently tested in basic biology and general science exams. The question checks whether you know the everyday name for this defect and understand, at a basic level, how it affects a person s ability to see clearly at different distances.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Myopia is described as a defect of the eyes.
• The question asks for the common name by which myopia is known.
• We assume a normal human eye without other complications such as cataract or glaucoma.
• We consider standard textbook definitions of near sightedness and far sightedness.

Concept / Approach:
In myopia, parallel rays of light from distant objects focus in front of the retina rather than exactly on it. This happens because the eyeball is too long from front to back or because the cornea and lens bend light too strongly. As a result, distant objects appear blurred, while near objects can often be seen clearly. Because the main difficulty is seeing far objects, myopia is also called near sightedness. The opposite condition, hypermetropia or hyperopia, is called far sightedness and mainly affects near vision.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that myopia is a refractive error in which distant vision is impaired. Step 2: Note that a person with myopia can usually see nearby objects clearly, such as writing in a book or on a phone screen. Step 3: Understand that because near objects are seen better than distant ones, the popular term near sightedness is used. Step 4: Recognise that far sightedness refers to the opposite problem, where distant objects are clearer than near ones. Step 5: Remember that astigmatism is a different refractive error caused by irregular curvature of the cornea or lens. Step 6: Conclude that the correct common name for myopia is near sightedness.

Verification / Alternative check:
Eye care references and school level biology texts describe myopia as short sightedness or near sightedness. They explain that concave (diverging) lenses are used to correct myopia by shifting the focus back onto the retina. The same books describe hypermetropia as far sightedness and give different correction methods. This clear pairing of myopia with near sightedness confirms the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Far sightedness: This term corresponds to hypermetropia, not myopia. Astigmatism: A different defect where vision is blurred at all distances due to uneven curvature of optical surfaces. Night blindness: Usually linked to vitamin A deficiency and problems with low light vision, not refractive error. Color blindness: A defect in perceiving certain colors, unrelated to myopia.

Common Pitfalls:
Many students confuse near sightedness and far sightedness because the names describe which objects are seen clearly rather than which ones are blurred. A useful memory aid is that near sighted people see near objects well and far objects poorly, which matches the pattern seen in myopia. Keeping this straight avoids mixing up myopia and hypermetropia in exam questions.

Final Answer:
Myopia is also known as near sightedness.