Near-sightedness, also known as myopia, is a vision disorder characterized by difficulty in seeing distant objects clearly. There are several synonyms for this condition. Some of these synonyms include short-sightedness, which is a commonly used term in the United Kingdom and some parts of the world, along with nearsightedness or shortsightedness. The term myopia is also used interchangeably with near-sightedness. Additionally, the term "refractive error" refers to a range of vision conditions, including near-sightedness. Other less-common synonyms for near-sightedness include "minus vision" and "negative diopters". Despite the various synonyms for near-sightedness, this condition is generally recognized as a common eye disorder that affects many people worldwide.