Activities of daily living and quality of life in eldery cataract surgery

Abstract

Objective: Determine the impact of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) results in the quality of life related to vision (QLRV) of patients undergoing phacoemulsification. Method: A quantity and prospective study of elderly patients with a diagnosis of senile cataract was performed. Independence Chi-square test was used to determine relationship between variables. Results: The predominant BCVA was good, with a gain of 5 lines. After cataract surgery the highest percentage of patients considered to have a very good QLRV. Both relationships, between the results of questionnaire VisQoL-15 and Katz Index with BCVA respectively were statistically significant. Most of our elderly patients were satisfied with the visual result after surgery and most patients were consistent with good BCVA in the operated eye. Conclusions: Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation is a safe and effective method to improve the QLRV in the elderly patient and their functional capacity and VisQoL Visual Function Index -15 is a useful instrument to measure QLRV in elderly patient after cataract surgery. The patient satisfaction with visual results was closely linked with good postoperative BCVA.