Myopia is defined as which of the following?

Myopia is indeed defined as nearsightedness, a common refractive error in vision. In individuals with myopia, light entering the eye is focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it, which causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. This condition arises when the eyeball is too long relative to the focusing power of the cornea and lens, or when the cornea is too curved. Myopia can typically be corrected with prescription glasses or contact lenses that help to refocus light properly onto the retina, allowing for clearer vision at a distance.

In contrast, the other choices, including farsightedness, distortion of vision, and normal visual acuity, refer to different visual conditions or states that do not accurately describe the myopic condition. Farsightedness (hyperopia) involves difficulty focusing on nearby objects, while distortion of vision describes a general alteration in perception which can occur in various eye conditions. Normal visual acuity denotes the ability to see clearly without any refractive errors, making it unrelated to the specific definition of myopia.