Changes in quality of life shortly after routine cataract surgery

Objective: To perform a pilot study to explore use of a generic patient-reported outcome measure to assess patient-perceived improvements in quality of life within 2-4 weeks of routine cataract surgery and to explore differences after first or second eye surgery. Secondary analysis explored effects of gender and ethnicity. Design: Prospective observational study. Participants: Consecutive patients attending a weekly nurse-led postoperative clinic. Methods: The Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), a validated, postinterventional questionnaire (not specific to one particular medical or surgical intervention), was administered. Mean scores were calculated. Scores were compared when patients were grouped by first or second eye, and by gender or ethnicity (unpaired t test). Scores potentially range from +100 (maximum benefit) to -100 (maximum detriment). Results: The GBI was administered 113 times to 109 patients (4 patients were seen after both first and second eye surgery). Mean overall score was +22.8 (median +19.4; SD 19.7; 95% CI +19.2 to +26.4). Mean (SD) subscores were +30.5 (25.3), +17.8 (26.7), and -3.1 (19.9) for general, social support, and physical health subdomains, respectively. Total benefit scores were not significantly different for first or second eye surgery, or across gender (p > 0.3). Scores for patients of African (including African Caribbean) ethnicity were significantly higher than those obtained from European patients (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Patients reported significant improvements in quality of life even a few weeks after cataract surgery, as assessed by the GBI. Second eye surgery appeared to confer similar benefit to first eye surgery. The significant difference in scores between ethnic groups invites further investigation.