[Comparing patients' quality of life after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation with that after extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation]

Abstract

Objective: To Compare the effects of phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation (PHACO + IOL) to extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation (ECCE + IOL) on quality of life.

Methods: The study population consisted of 116 patients receiving PHACO + IOL and 93 patients receiving ECCE + IOL. They were interviewed using the quality of life questionnaire, and the clinical outcomes were obtained before surgery and in 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after surgery respectively.

Results: Patients receiving PHACO + IOL reported larger benefit in quality of life and all sub-scales than did those receiving ECCE + IOL in 1 week after surgery. Subjects underwent PHACO + IOL showed better improvement in quality of life and two sub-scales (social and mental) than did those underwent ECCE + IOL in 1 month and 3 months after surgery. However, the improvement in other two sub-scales (self-care and mobility) was similar between two surgical groups in 1 month and 3 months after surgery.

Conclusion: The patients receiving PHACO + IOL reported better and more rapid improvement in quality of life within 3 months after surgery. PHACO + IOL and ECCE + IOL have the same effects on improvement in self-care and mobility. So quality of life in patients receiving PHACO + IOL are better than those of ECCE + IOL.