Visual function, quality of life and patient satisfaction after ophthalmic surgery: a comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To compare visual acuity, functional visual performance (VF-14), quality of life (QOL) gain (VF-14 gain) and patient satisfaction in a series of patients undergoing common types of ophthalmic surgery.


METHODS
In a prospective trial, the VF-14 QOL questionnaire was administered to 100 patients who underwent surgery by one surgeon between May 2001 and April 2002. The following surgeries were compared: (1) cataract surgery (non-diabetic patients), (2) cataract surgery (diabetic patients), (3) retinal detachment cryo-buckle procedure, (4) pars plana vitrectomy, (5) silicone oil removal. VF-14 questionnaire responses, visual function and clinical data of all patients were recorded pre-operatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
In comparison to vitreoretinal surgery, patients who underwent cataract surgery achieved higher VF-14 scores and required less time to recover from the procedure (1 month). The QOL gain (VF-14 gain) was significantly higher in patients who had undergone retinal detachment surgery and vitrectomy (p < 0.0001). The lowest QOL gain was registered in diabetic patients after cataract surgery. Patients with pre-existing eye disease, including patients with improved visual acuity, were least satisfied with the final outcome of surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The highest VF-14 score was achieved by patients with no pre-existing ocular disease, who had undergone cataract surgery. The QOL gain was greater in patients with severer initial ocular conditions. Better patient satisfaction can be achieved in patients with pre-existing eye disease by improving pre-operative patient education.
Mozaffarieh
Maneli
M
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. wedrich@akh-wien.ac.at
Krepler
Katharina
K
Heinzl
Harald
H
Sacu
Stefan
S
Wedrich
Andreas
A
D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003452:Cryosurgery; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D012827:Silicone Oils; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000379:methods
D012827:Silicone Oils