The impact of phacoemulsification surgery on vision-related quality of life in senile cataract patients

Abstract

Background: Phacoemulsification surgery may have beneficial effects on the quality of life of patients with senile cataract. These effects can be evaluated with the help of questionnaires and tests. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of the phacoemulsification surgery on the vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients with senile cataract using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and functional independence measure (FIM) tests. Methods: The data collection was prospective. NEI-VFQ-25 and FIM tests were measured by a masked ergo-therapist. The patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgery were included in this study. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), NEI-VFQ-25 and FIM scores were compared in the preoperative period and at least 3 months after the surgery according to demographic properties including gender, age, education status, as well as the BCVA level and laterality. Results: Preoperative mean BCVA and NEI-VFQ-25 composite scores improved significantly ( p 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Phacoemulsification surgery can provide a satisfying improvement in VR-QOL in patients with cataracts. As a valid and reliable test, the NEI-VFQ-25 scale can be used to measure the visual function after the ocular surgeries.