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Glite Dictionary
microphthalmos

microphthalmos

9.9
One or both eyes are much smaller than normal from birth
  • noun
  • /ˌmaɪkroʊfˈθælmoʊs/
  • Specialized
: microftalmos
  • The baby was diagnosed with microphthalmos shortly after birth.

Examples

  • Surgery can sometimes help improve appearance in cases of microphthalmos.

  • Children born with microphthalmos may require special care to support their vision.

  • The specialist confirmed that the baby had microphthalmos after several detailed eye tests.

  • Many children with microphthalmos require special glasses.

  • The specialist confirmed that the baby had microphthalmos after several detailed eye tests.

  • Children born with microphthalmos may require special care to support their vision.

  • Many children with microphthalmos require special glasses.

Synonyms

microphthalmia
vsmicrophthalmos
  • Specialized
9.9

A condition in which one or both eyes are born much smaller than normal

is an alternative form of the same medical term
nanophthalmos
vsmicrophthalmos
  • Specialized
9.9

Both eyes are much smaller than usual but otherwise normal

allows one or both eyes to be small and may include structural differences

How Big

normal
∞ 1.0
microphthalmos
  • Specialized
9.9
nanophthalmos
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

microphthalmos singular
microphthalmoses plural

Morphology

microphthalmos = micro + phthalmos

The prefix micro- suggests smallness, but the remaining element is a specialized Greek medical root for eye that is not transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word microphthalmos comes from the Greek parts micro- 'small' and ophthalmos 'eye', like in microscope where micro- means 'small'. So, microphthalmos describes a condition in which one or both eyes are much smaller than normal.