Aphakia

Aphakia is the absence of the <a href="/facts/Lens_(anatomy)/yWz7AdHV">lens</a> of the <a href="/facts/Human_eye/a24ua4fy">eye</a>, due to surgical removal, such as in <a href="/facts/Cataract_surgery/6m2AMJ6E">cataract surgery</a>, a <a href="/facts/Perforation/rUfohC99">perforating</a> wound or <a href="/facts/Corneal_ulcer/mPQapI93">ulcer</a>, or <a href="/facts/Congenital/ESfzQhTx">congenital</a> anomaly. It causes a loss of ability to maintain focus (<a href="/facts/Accommodation_(eye)/UqjPBp3S">accommodation</a>), high degree of farsightedness (<a href="/facts/Hyperopia/h8pFNRfI">hyperopia</a>), and a deep <a href="/facts/Anterior_chamber_of_eyeball/c7gN4vpp">anterior chamber</a>. Complications include detachment of the <a href="/facts/Vitreous_membrane/07TQBnHl">vitreous</a> or <a href="/facts/Retina/v0ISNX2S">retina</a>, and <a href="/facts/Glaucoma/MWqWVNz3">glaucoma</a>.
Babies are rarely born with aphakia. Occurrence most often results from surgery to remove a congenital <a href="/facts/Cataract/RzN7k7K2">cataract</a>. Congenital cataracts usually develop as a result of infection of the fetus or genetic reasons. It is often difficult to identify the exact cause of these cataracts, especially if only one eye is affected.
People with aphakia have relatively small <a href="/facts/Pupil/E4ec4lfJ">pupils</a> and their pupils dilate to a lesser degree.

Aphakia open-in-new

Aphakia