Which term refers to a condition where close objects appear clear but distant objects appear blurry?

The condition described in the question is known as myopia, more commonly referred to as nearsightedness. Individuals with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, but objects that are farther away tend to appear blurry. This occurs because the eyeball is typically elongated or the cornea has too much curvature, which alters how light is focused on the retina.

In the context of vision issues, it’s important to differentiate myopia from other conditions. Astigmatism involves an irregular curvature of the eye that leads to distorted or blurred vision at all distances, rather than just at a distance. Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is the opposite of myopia; it results in difficulty seeing nearby objects clearly while distant objects may be seen more clearly. Photophobia, on the other hand, is not a refractive error but sensitivity to light, which is unrelated to the clarity of vision for objects at different distances.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial when diagnosing and addressing vision-related issues, making myopia the correct answer for the condition where close objects are seen clearly and distant ones are not.