Phaco

Medical abbreviation · Surgical

Phaco stands for Phacoemulsification, a surgical abbreviation.

Standard modern cataract surgery technique in which an ultrasonic probe breaks up the clouded lens through a tiny corneal incision and suctions it out before a folded artificial lens is implanted. The operation usually takes under 30 minutes with topical or local anesthesia.

Example: Phaco with IOL, right eye; uncomplicated, discharged with drops.

Usage notes

Introduced by American ophthalmologist Charles Kelman in 1967, it replaced techniques requiring large incisions and stitches. Cataract surgery is among the most frequently performed operations in the world. Later clouding of the lens capsule (posterior capsule opacification) is treated with a quick YAG laser procedure.

Related abbreviations

More surgical abbreviations

• M&M – Morbidity and mortality (conference)
• MIS – Minimally invasive surgery
• MRM – Modified radical mastectomy
• NSQIP – National Surgical Quality Improvement Program
• PAT – Preadmission testing
• PE – Pressure equalization (tubes)
• POD – Postoperative day
• Post-op – Postoperative
• Pre-op – Preoperative
• PRK – Photorefractive keratectomy
• RCR – Rotator cuff repair
• SLNB – Sentinel lymph node biopsy

See all 51 surgical abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.