phaco-, phac-, phako-, phak- +

(Greek: lentil [bean]; lens of the eye)

So called because the lens of the eye resembles a lentil bean in appearance or shape.

angiophakomatosis, angiophacomatosis
Hereditary phakomatosis characterized by hemangiomas of the retina and hemangioblastomas of the cerebellum; there may also be similar lesions of the spinal cord and cysts of the pancreas, kidneys, and other viscera.

Neurologic symptoms, including seizures and mental retardation, may be present.

erysiphake
An instrument for removing the lens of an eye in cataract by suction.
ophthalmometer
1. An instrument for measuring the reflection of an image on the surface of the cornea and other capacities of the eye, used chiefly for determining the presence and degree of astigmatism.
2. An instrument for measuring the size of a reflected image on the convex surface of the cornea and lens of the eye, by which their curvatures can be determined.
ophthalmophacometer
An ophthalmometer used to determine the refractive power of the lens.
phacoanaphylactic uveitis, lens-induced uveitis (s) (noun), phacoanaphylactic uveitides, lens-induced uveitides (pl)
Intraocular inflammation: Phacoanaphylactic uveitis can occur after an extracapsular cataract extraction, which is believed to be an immune reaction to the patient's liberated lenticular proteins.
phacoanaphylaxis
Hypersensitivity to protein of the lens of the eye.
phacoanaphylaxis
Hypersensitivity to the protein of the crystalline lens of the eye, induced by the escape of material from the lens capsule.
phacocele
1. Hernia of the lens of the eye.
2. The dislocation of the eye lens from its proper place.
phacocyst
The capsule of the eye lens.
phacocystectomy
1. Surgical removal of a portion of the capsule of the lens of the eye.
2. Excision of part of the lens capsule of the eye for a cataract.
phacocystitis
Inflammation of the capsule of the eye lens.
phacodonesis
Tremulousness of the lens of the eye.
phacoemulsification, phacoemulsifications
An ultrasonic technique using microsurgical instruments that allows a cataract-affected lens to be liquefied and removed by suction using a very small incision near the edge of the cornea.

A foldable plastic lens is then inserted through the incision and unfolded.

A procedure in which the lens, clouded by a cataract, is broken up by ultrasound, irrigated, and suctioned out. Most cataract surgery today is performed using phacoemulsification.

Before the advent of this technique, people with cataracts could expect a ten-day hospital stay followed by a lengthy recovery. Today, it is an outpatient procedure.

Instead of making a large incision in the eye and removing the lens, the ophthalmologist can make a tiny one and then insert an ultrasonic tip which, vibrating thousands of times a second, breaks up the cataracts without damaging the surrounding tissue. The remains of the cataract are suctioned out.

The word phakos in Greek is a "lentil" (a lentil bean). The prefix phaco- therefore refers to the lens of the eye which is lentil-shaped.

phacoerysis
Extraction of a cataract of the lens of the eye using suction with an instrument known as an erysiphake (an instrument for removing the lens in cataract by suction).
phacofragmentation (s) (noun), phacofragmentations (pl)
A rupture or tearing and of the lens.

Related references to "eye" or "eye part" word families: blepharo-; core-; corneo-; eye, eyes; irido-; lenti-, lens-; lenticulo-; ocelli-; oculo-; op-, -optic; ophthalmo-; pupillo-; retino-; uveo-.