aphakia
|a-pha-ki-a|
🇺🇸
/əˈfeɪkiə/
🇬🇧
/əˈfeɪkɪə/
without the eye's lens
Etymology
'aphakia' originates from New Latin/medical Latin, specifically the word 'aphakia', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and the Greek root 'phakos' meant 'lens' (literally 'lentil').
'aphakia' derives from Greek elements (a- + phakos), passed into Late/Modern Latin as 'aphakia' for a medical condition, and was adopted into English medical usage in the 19th century as 'aphakia'.
Initially it meant 'the state of being without a lens' (literally 'without lens'), and it has retained that specific medical meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the absence of the eye's crystalline lens, either congenital or resulting from surgical removal, causing significant refractive error and visual impairment.
Aphakia may be managed with contact lenses, spectacles, or intraocular lens implantation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/15 19:24