Visual experience during cataract surgery: a nation-wide survey on the knowledge of optometry students.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients experience a variety of visual sensations during cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. Up to 16.2% of patients are frightened by their intraoperative visual experience. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and beliefs of optometry students on this subject.


METHODS
A nationwide survey using a standardised, self-administered questionnaire was conducted on all optometry students in Singapore.


RESULTS
For cataract surgery under regional anaesthesia, 38.9% of the respondents believed that patients might experience no light perception while 68.5% felt that patients were likely to be able to perceive light. Overall, 70.4% felt that patients might be frightened by their visual experiences and 88.0% believed that preoperative counselling of patients would serve to reduce the fear experienced during the surgery. For cataract surgery under topical anaesthesia, 37.0% of the respondents believed that patients would perceive no light and 74.1% believed that patients would retain light perception. Overall, 67.6% believed that patients may be frightened and 86.1% felt that preoperative counselling would help.


CONCLUSIONS
Many optometry students correctly believed that patients might experience a variety of visual sensations during cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. The majority were also aware that patients might be frightened by this and felt that preoperative counselling would be helpful.
Tan
Colin S H
CS
The Eye Institute at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National Healthcare Group, Singapore.
Tang
Wilfred
W
Tan
Say Beng
SB
Au Eong
Kah-Guan
KG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000523:psychology; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000523:psychology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009907:Optometry; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012846:Singapore; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*