Abstract
Purpose :
To describe demographic characteristics and social impact indicators in patients diagnosed with senile cataract treated with phacoemulsification plus intraocular lens implantation.
Methods :
Patients who underwent cataract surgery were studied. Inclusion criteria included ≥60 years old and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥to 0.6 in LogMAR for cases and healthy subjects without diagnosis of cataract for control group. Exclusion criteria included other ocular diseases and systemic diseases that affect quality of life. The social impact was measured with BCVA and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Old survey (WHOQOL-OLD), 6 domains were included. The BCVA and WHOQOL-OLD was applied to cases individually on 3 occasions: before surgery, 1 and 3 months postoperative. For controls only once during a routine visit.
Results :
A total of 108 people (108 eyes), 54 patients and 54 subjects enrolled. The mean age was 72 for patients and 68 for subjects, 63% female and 37% male in both groups. The BCVA of the right eye preoperative was 1.47 ± 0.92 and in the 3rd month 0.72 ± 0.85 (P<0.001), for the left eye preoperative was 1.68 ± 1.14 and 0.65 ± 0.70 (P<0.001) in the 3rd month respectively. The results obtained in the WHOQOL-OLD in the initial evaluation compared with third month of the postoperative period were as follows: In social participation, 12.07 vs 13.76 (P > 0.05), in intimacy, 12.96 vs 11.06 (P <0001). In the domain of death and agony, 10.48 vs 6.389 (P <0.00001), in the domain of current, past and future capacities, 12.72 vs 12.39 (P > 0.05). In the domain, sensory capacity, 13.02 vs 8.648 (P <0.0001). Finally, in autonomy 10.67 vs 10.15 (P > 0.05). Of the 6 domains that were compared between the control group and the patients, only 3 were not statistically significant being social participation, death and agony and sensory capacity (P > 0.05).
Conclusions :
A statistically significant improvement was identified in BCVA and in half of the domains of WHOQOL-OLD. These two variables can be understood as indicators of social impact and to be considered for treatment decisions of senile cataracts.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.