phacoemulsification

Or phak·o·e·mul·si·fi·ca·tion

[fak-oh-i-muhl-suh-fi-key-shuhn]

noun

Surgery.

1. the removal of a cataract by first liquefying the affected lens with ultrasonic vibrations and then extracting it by suction.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phacoemulsification¹

phaco- (< Greek phako-, combining form of phakós “lentil”; lens ) + emulsification ( def. )

Example Sentences

Surgeons use a tiny eye incision and a technique called phacoemulsification.

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After scrubbing and suiting up, Paul turned to the surgical table to review the phacoemulsification machine, which uses ultrasonic waves to emulsify the lens of the eye so it can be safely removed.

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One such improvement, phacoemulsification extraction, was first adopted in the mid-1980s and is now the preferred procedure for cataract surgery.

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These days, cataract removal is usually done via a technique called "phacoemulsification."

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