Refractive expectations of patients having cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To assess the refractive expectations of patients having elective cataract surgery.

SETTING

Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, King's Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, and Kidderminster District Hospital, United Kingdom.

METHODS

A prospective questionnaire study of patients attending a preoperative assessment clinic for elective cataract surgery was performed. Only first-eye cataract surgery patients were included. Patients were excluded if they had visually impairing ocular comorbidity or if they were mentally unable to complete the questionnaire.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-nine questionnaires were received. Mean patient age was 74 years (range 41 to 97 years). Sixty-four percent of respondents were women, and 90% were retired. On 10-point Likert scales (0 lowest, 10 highest), median patient scores for the perceived likelihood of needing spectacles after surgery were 8 for both distance and near correction. Patients already wearing distance correction thought it significantly more likely that they would need distance glasses postoperatively than those who did not (median likelihood scores 9 and 1, respectively; P<.0001). Similar differences in expectations were demonstrated for near correction. Median score of the importance of not needing spectacles was 8 for both distance and near. Men scored this higher than women, but only for distance. There was a weak negative correlation between the importance of spectacle independence and patient age.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who already wear spectacles expect to need them after cataract surgery. Those not already wearing spectacles do not expect to need them. This latter group is at particular risk for refractive disappointment and complaint. In general, patients consider the opportunity to be free of glasses as very important.