Original Paper

Visual Function, Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction after Ophthalmic Surgery: A Comparative Study
Maneli Mozaffarieh^a, Katharina Krepler^a, Harald Heinzl^b, Stefan Sacu^a, Andreas Wedrich^a

Departments of
^aOphthalmology and
^bMedical Computer Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2004;218:26-30 (DOI: 10.1159/000074563)

  Key Words

• Visual function
• Quality of life
• Patient satisfaction
• Ophthalmic surgery

  Abstract

Purpose: 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. Method: 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.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Andreas Wedrich, MD
Department of Ophthalmology
University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20
AT-1090 Vienna (Austria)
Tel. +43 1 40400 7940, Fax +43 1 40400 7932, E-Mail wedrich@akh-wien.ac.at

  Article Information

Received: May 15, 2003
Accepted: June 6, 2003
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 24