ABO NOCE Practice Test

Which term is used to describe the condition of being nearsighted?

1. Presbyopia

2. Emmetropia

3. Hyperopia

4. Myopia

The correct answer is: Myopia

The term that describes the condition of being nearsighted is myopia. Myopia occurs when light entering the eye focuses in front of the retina instead of on it. This results in distant objects appearing blurry while closer objects can be seen clearly. This condition typically arises due to either an elongation of the eyeball or increased curvature of the cornea. Understanding the other terms helps clarify why myopia is the correct answer. Presbyopia, for instance, refers to age-related changes in the eye that make it difficult to focus on close objects, a condition that arises usually after the age of 40. Emmetropia is the state of having perfect vision or normal refractive state, where light is properly focused on the retina, and hyperopia describes being farsighted, where distant objects can be seen clearly, but nearby objects are blurry due to light focusing behind the retina. Thus, myopia is distinctly identified by its characteristic of blurred distance vision.