aphakia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low frequency / SpecialisedFormal / Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “aphakia” mean?
A medical condition characterised by the absence of the eye's natural crystalline lens.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition characterised by the absence of the eye's natural crystalline lens.
The state or condition resulting from the surgical removal or congenital absence of the lens of the eye, leading to a significant loss of focusing power.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Both use the same medical term.
Connotations
Purely clinical, with no cultural or connotative variation.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “aphakia” in a Sentence
Noun + of aphakia (e.g., 'correction of aphakia')Aphakia + noun (e.g., 'aphakia patient')Adjective + aphakia (e.g., 'congenital aphakia')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aphakia” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The aphakic eye requires a powerful corrective lens.
- Aphakic patients are at greater risk for retinal detachment.
American English
- An aphakic correction is needed after lens removal.
- The study focused on aphakic children.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical and biological research papers on vision, ophthalmology, and embryology.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in ophthalmology clinics, surgical notes, and optometry for describing a post-operative condition or congenital anomaly.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “aphakia”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aphakia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aphakia”
- Misspelling as 'apakia' or 'aphacia'.
- Confusing with 'aphasia'.
- Using it to refer to the surgical procedure rather than the resulting condition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specialised medical term. It occurs most commonly as a planned outcome of cataract surgery or, very rarely, as a congenital condition.
Yes, the focusing power lost due to aphakia is typically corrected with spectacles, contact lenses, or most commonly today, an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implanted during surgery.
Aphakia is the absence of the natural lens. Pseudophakia ('false lens') is the state after an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) has been implanted to correct aphakia.
The main reason is surgical removal of the lens, usually due to a cataract. Rarely, it can be caused by a traumatic injury that dislocates the lens or be present from birth (congenital).
A medical condition characterised by the absence of the eye's natural crystalline lens.
Aphakia is usually formal / technical / medical in register.
Aphakia: in British English it is pronounced /eɪˈfeɪ.kɪ.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈfeɪ.ki.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A' (without) + 'phakia' (sounds like 'fake lens') = without the natural lens.
Conceptual Metaphor
The eye as a camera: Aphakia is like a camera missing its primary focusing lens, requiring an external corrective lens to function.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of aphakia?