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 < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). All NEI-VFQ-25 subscale scores except the general health ( p = 0.235) and driving ( p = 0.226) showed a significant postoperative increase. The postoperative NEI-VFQ-25 composite scores showed a significant increase in all subgroup analyses ( p < 0.05 for all). Patients with poorer BCVA, bilateral surgery, and low education status had lower preoperative NEI-VFQ-25 composite scores than the patients with better BCVA, unilateral surgery, and high education status ( p = 0.026, p = 0.016, and p = 0.032, respectively). All FIM scores were similar in the preoperative and postoperative periods regardless of subgroup analyses ( 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.

The Analysis Study of Management of Cataract in the Adult Eye: A Case Report and Comprehensive Systematic Review

“…The systematic review identified several key risk factors associated with cataract development, including age, preoperative visual acuity, and comorbidities such as glaucoma and hypertension. 9,10,15 Consistent with previous findings, our case report patient presented with age-related cataract, emphasizing the age-related nature of this condition and the importance of regular ophthalmic screenings in the elderly population.…”

“…Akpolat, et al 10 (2022) phacoemulsification surgery significantly improves vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients with cataracts. The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) is a valid and reliable tool for measuring visual function post-ocular surgery.…”

Vision-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Keratoconus: A Nationwide Study in Saudi Arabia

“…The National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) has been found to be a validated instrument for measuring vision-related QoL [9]. This 25-item questionnaire has been used to assess patients' QoL in a variety of eyerelated disorders [10][11][12][13][14].…”

Efficacy of cataract surgeries performed during blindness prevention programs in Chongqing, China: A multicenter prospective study

“…Although the preoperative VA was signi cantly worse in the blindness prevention program group than in the conventional cataract surgery group, there was no signi cant difference in the preoperative VF-QOL questionnaire scores. Akpolat et al [34] reported that cataract patients with a higher education level had worse vision-related QOL than those with a lower education level, even if the baseline BCVA was similar. Munaw and Tegegn [35] reported that participants with high educational levels who are visually impaired are twice as likely to develop psychological distress than those who cannot read or write.…”