'microphthalmia' originates from Greek, specifically from 'mikros' meaning 'small' and 'ophthalmos' meaning 'eye'.

'microphthalmia' was formed in New Latin/medical terminology by combining the Greek elements 'mikros' + 'ophthalmos' and entered English in modern medical usage as 'microphthalmia'.

Initially constructed to mean 'small eye' from its Greek roots, its meaning has remained specialized to refer to a congenital medical condition of abnormally small eye(s).