[Satisfaction of cataract patients].
BACKGROUND
Most of the presentations concerning quality assurance following cataract surgery are based upon objective data, as it should be. But the success of an eye-clinic is not limited by such objective data, but on the contentment of the patients and the local colleagues, who direct the patients. Our aim in the following study is to find out, if there is a correlation between objective data and the contentment of cataract-patients.


METHODS
101 non-selected patients were asked about their contentment following cataract surgery and lens implantation. They were asked twice; first immediately after surgery and second two months after surgery. The subjective data of the patients were compared with objective data.


RESULTS
99% of the patients were content with the surgery, but only 88% were content with their visual acuity. There was no correlation between contentment of the patients and visual acuity. 13% of the patients reached a vision below 0.2. All but one said to have a good or moderate vision. 16% claimed to have poor or very poor vision, they all had a vision between 0.2 and 1.0.


CONCLUSIONS
The ophthalmic surgeon must not be satisfied by his own good surgical results. In addition, he has to take care of the contentment of his patients. But it is even more dangerous, if the surgeon is proud because of his many content patients. Even if the patients are satisfied, he has to take care, if he really deserves the thanks of them.
Wenzel
M
M
Augenklinik der RWTH Aachen.
Altgassen
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014792:Visual Acuity
D008768:Methylmethacrylates
Uber die Zufriedenheit von Katarakt-Patienten.