Comparison of Subjective Preoperative Experiences of Patients Before First- or Second-Eye Cataract Surgeries

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the subjective preoperative experiences of patients undergoing their first- or second-cataract surgeries.

Patients and methods: Consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification were asked to complete postoperative questionnaires evaluating their subjective preoperative experiences, including their emotional state, decision-making process, and opinions on the admission and examination processes, medical interviews, and quality of service. The obtained data were compared between patients undergoing their first (group I)- or second (group II)-cataract surgeries.

Results: Two hundred patients (group I, 124; group II, 76) were included in the evaluation. Presurgical anxiety was more prevalent in group I than in group II (55.7% vs 34.2%, P = 0.005). Fear was the major trigger for reconsidering the decision to undergo surgery, with 29% and 13.2% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, considering abandoning the operation (P = 0.016). The preoperative medical examination was reported to be sufficiently accurate by 66.1% and 80.3% of patients in groups I and II, respectively (P = 0.047), while 28.2% and 21% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, did not understand the information presented about possible complications of surgery (P = 0.039). Administration of eyedrops before surgery was uncomfortable for 71.4% and 68.4% of patients in groups I and II, respectively (P = 0.553), while 22.6% and 9.2% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, found repeated administration of drops to be highly uncomfortable (P = 0.026).

Conclusion: Patients experienced greater anxiety before their first-cataract surgery than before their second-cataract surgery. Moreover, many patients from both groups did not understand the medical information provided by doctors regarding the surgery and its possible complications. The most unpleasant stage of preparation for cataract surgery was repeated administration of eyedrops.

Trial registration: The study was registered on clinicaltrial.gov under the number NCT04327856.

Keywords: anxiety; cataract surgery; patients experience; presurgical fear.