Quality of Life after Cataract Surgery

Background: Cataracts are the common cause of blindness, causing disorders, limitations, and restrictions in patients' physical, social, and daily activities. Cataract surgery can be performed as the only treatment. Objective assessment of the impact of cataracts, such as visual acuity, has not been able to describe overall visual function, so the subjective assessment is an overall quality of life assessment. This literature review aims to elaborate on successful factors for cataract surgery and factors related to the quality of life after cataract surgery. Methods: This literature review conducted 21 research publications from 2011-2020 cited from some reputable sources using "cataract", "cataract surgery", "patient-reported outcome," and "quality of life" as keywords. Results: Successful factors for cataract surgery influenced by visual acuity, co-existing ocular comorbidities, and surgeon include surgical technique, surgeons' skill, a complication of the surgery, and post-operative follow-up care. Visual acuity related to the quality of life after cataract surgery, such as productivity, psychosocial, education, and environment, must also be assessed. Quality of life after cataract surgery can be measured using questionnaires as patient-reported outcomes. Conclusion: Cataract surgery significantly improved quality of life. Postoperative ocular outcomes are not the only target of surgery. Improved non-ocular outcomes, such as increased productivity, income, and even social status, need to be achieved to have a good quality of life after cataract surgery.