| Aphakia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A person with aphakia wearing cataract glasses, with extremely thick lenses to correct the typical extreme farsightedness. Before in-eye lens replacement was available, such glasses were much more common. | |
| Specialty | Ophthalmology |
Aphakia is the absence of the lens of the eye, due to surgical removal, such as in cataract surgery, a perforating wound or ulcer, or congenital anomaly. It causes a loss of ability to maintain focus (accommodation), high degree of farsightedness (hyperopia),[1] and a deep anterior chamber. Complications include detachment of the vitreous or retina, and glaucoma.
Babies are rarely born with aphakia. Occurrence most often results from surgery to remove a congenital cataract. 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 pupils and their pupils dilate to a lesser degree.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Khuranawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Mary V Gibbens; R Goel; S E Smith (1989). "Effect of cataract extraction on the pupil response to mydriatics". British Journal of Ophthalmology. 73 (7): 563–565. doi:10.1136/bjo.73.7.563. PMC 1041802. PMID 2757997.