Impact of Cataract Surgery on Visual Functions and Quality of Life in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cataracts are responsible for 50% of blindness in sub-Saharan Africa, and visual impairment from cataracts greatly affects the quality of life and psychology of the affected individual, their family, and their community. The efficacy of vision-restoring cataract surgery in improving quality of life needs to be demonstrated with facts in order to convincingly mobilize resources for an accessible and affordable cataract surgery program.
Aim: To determine the impact of cataract surgery on visual functions (VFs) and quality of life (QoL) in patients operated on at Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa State.
Methods: QoL and VF questionnaires were administered to the participants preoperatively and 6 weeks post cataract surgery. The QoL, visual acuity (VA), and VF of the participants were compared at preoperative and 6-week postoperative visits. Correlations of VA, VF, and QoL of the participants were also done before and post cataract surgery. SPSS version 18 was used to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 432 participants participated in the study. There were 206 (47.7%) males and 226 (52.3%) females, with a mean of 58.0 years. There was a positive correlation between a patient's preoperative and postoperative visual acuity and visual function. Changes in subscales of quality of life and visual functions comparing preoperative with postoperative results were more remarkable in patients' mobility and sensory, respectively.
Conclusion: There was improvement in visual function and quality of life following cataract surgery in this study. Hence, it is advised that surgeons should assess the VF and QoL of the patient before and after cataract surgery.