Abstract
Purpose :
To compare the visual outcomes, complications, and postoperative compliance between limited English proficiency (LEP) and native English speaking (non-LEP) patients who underwent cataract surgery
Methods :
We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent cataract surgery between March 2019 and February 2019 at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, Harris Health and had follow-up for at least 1 month. Eyes that underwent combined procedures or those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, severe glaucoma, or ocular trauma were excluded. If both eyes met criteria, the first eye was included. Patients were divided into LEP and non-LEP groups based on the documented native language. Demographics, baseline ocular characteristics, and intraoperative complications were recorded. Postoperative data was collected at Day 1 and Weeks 1, 4, and 8, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), drop compliance, and postoperative complications. Poor visual outcome was defined as BCVA worse than 20/40 at last study visit. The Fisher exact test was used to compare discrete variables between 2 groups.
Results :
242 patients (125 [52%] LEP and 117 [48%] non-LEP) with mean age 65.7 (±10.3, range 31 - 95) years were included. 162 (67%) were female. 125 LEP and 103 non-LEP patients reported race. In the LEP patients, 108 (86%) were Hispanic, 13 (10%) Asian, 2 (2%) White, and 2 (2%) Black. For non-LEP patients, 28 (27%) were Hispanic, 7 (7%) Asian, 48 (47%) White, and 20 (19%) Black (P<0.001).
Complex cataract surgery occurred in 51 (41%) LEP and 46 (39%) non-LEP (P=0.90) patients, with 6 (5%) LEP and 9 (8%) non-LEP patients experiencing intraoperative adverse events (P=0.43). Poor visual outcomes occurred in 9 (15%) LEP and 24 (21%) non-LEP patients (P=0.31). Postoperative cystoid macular edema occurred in 36 (29%) LEP and 38 (32%) non-LEP patients (P=0.58). No endophthalmitis, retinal tears or detachments occurred. Drop compliance was 97 (78%) in LEP and 101 (86%) in non-LEP patients (P=0.096).
Conclusions :
There were no statistically significant differences between the LEP and non-LEP groups for visual outcomes, complications, or drop compliance. Interestingly, drop compliance was 8% higher in the non-LEP group, but our study was not powered to detect a difference less than 10%. Larger studies are needed to further investigate the effects of native language in this patient population.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.