Plain English Meaning
When you stare into a blank sky with nothing to look at, your eyes stop focusing far away and instead settle on a point just in front of you. You think you're scanning for traffic, but your eyes aren't actually seeing anything in the distance.
Full Definition
A condition in which the eyes, having nothing specific to focus on, relax to a short focal distance of only a few feet ahead, leaving the pilot effectively unable to detect distant traffic or terrain even while looking outside the aircraft.
Context Anchor
Encountered in visual scanning for traffic, especially when looking through clear, hazy, or featureless sky.
Derivation
From Greek 'myops,' meaning short-sighted. 'Empty field' refers to a featureless scene -- clear sky, , or smooth . Together: short-sightedness caused by an empty view. Knowing this helps because the condition is temporary and situational, not a permanent vision .