Which condition is characterized by the inability to see objects clearly at a distance?

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is characterized by the inability to see objects clearly at a distance. This condition occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than normal or when the cornea has too much curvature, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Individuals with myopia typically find that they can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. This condition can often be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses that help to reshape the light entering the eye, allowing for better focus on distant objects.

In contrast, hyperopia or farsightedness involves difficulty seeing close objects clearly due to the shape of the eye which does not allow light to focus directly on the retina. Emmetropia refers to a state of normal vision where light focuses exactly on the retina, and astigmatism is a refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea or lens, leading to blurred vision at all distances rather than specifically at a distance.