Visual outcome and patient satisfaction with cataract surgeries in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background:Cataract is the commonest cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in Nigeria. Treatment of cataract is by surgery, and the aim of cataract surgery is visual restoration. Visual improvement and patient satisfaction are outcome measures that can be used to determine the quality of cataract surgery. Objective: To assess visual outcome and patient satisfaction with cataract surgeries in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Methodology:This was a prospective hospital-based study of patients who had cataract surgery by three different eye care providers in Kaduna State between September and November 2021. Patients’ surgeries years and above without any ocular co-morbidities who were scheduled for cataract surgery were included in the study. All patients had complete ocular examinations using a pen torch and slit lamp biomicroscope. A semi-structured, pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all patients. Data obtained was entered and analysed using STATA version 15. Results:A total of 165 patients from the three facilities participated in this study. Their mean age was 64.54+9. The vision improved post-operatively in all three facilities. Eight weeks post-operatively, the best corrected visual acuity was a good outcome in 86.3% of patients in the National Eye Centre, 70.7% in Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, and 80% in AMA Foundation, with an improvement in patient satisfaction from baseline. There was no statistical difference among the three facilities in visual outcome (Chi-square; p>0.05).The Catquest-9SF score revealed improvement in patient satisfaction postoperatively. This difference was statistically significant in all three facilities (p=0.001). Conclusion:Cataract visual outcome was relatively good in all three centres, with good patient satisfaction