hemeralopia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “hemeralopia” mean?
A medical condition in which vision is normal in dim light but poor in bright light.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition in which vision is normal in dim light but poor in bright light; day blindness.
In broader or historical usage, it can sometimes be confused with or used for nyctalopia (night blindness), though this is medically incorrect. It refers specifically to impaired vision in well-lit conditions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term exclusively in medical/technical registers.
Connotations
Purely clinical, with no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, encountered almost solely in medical textbooks, journals, or specialist consultations.
Grammar
How to Use “hemeralopia” in a Sentence
Patient + suffer from + hemeralopiaHemeralopia + be caused by + conditionDiagnosis + of + hemeralopiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hemeralopia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The hemeralopic patient struggled in the bright sunshine.
- A hemeralopic condition is quite rare.
American English
- The hemeralopic patient had difficulty driving during the day.
- Hemeralopic symptoms were documented.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers discussing visual disorders.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Primary context; used in ophthalmology, optometry, clinical neurology, and related medical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemeralopia”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemeralopia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemeralopia”
- Using it to mean 'night blindness'.
- Using it in non-medical contexts.
- Misspelling as 'hemerelopia' or 'hemerolopia'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Hemeralopia is a specific dysfunction of vision in bright light (photopic vision), not a complete absence of sight.
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Some forms, like those from vitamin A deficiency, may be treatable, while congenital forms may be managed but not cured.
The opposite condition is nyctalopia, or night blindness, where vision is poor in low light.
A specialist might use the term, but would more likely explain it as 'day blindness' or 'difficulty seeing in bright light' for clarity.
A medical condition in which vision is normal in dim light but poor in bright light.
Hemeralopia is usually technical/medical in register.
Hemeralopia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɛmərəˈləʊpɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɛmərəˈloʊpiə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEMERa' (like 'hemera', Greek for 'day') + 'OPIA' (vision condition) = day vision problem.
Conceptual Metaphor
VISION IMPAIRMENT IS A LIGHT-RELATED DEFECT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause for using the term 'hemeralopia'?