Emotional factors prior to cataract surgery.

PURPOSE

Identification of emotional factors related to daily difficulties and surgical treatment among patients with cataract at a university hospital.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out by means of a questionnaire, elaborated based on a previous study. The sample consisted of patients seen at the cataract unit of the ophthalmology clinic of a university hospital.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 110 individuals of both sexes (34.5% men; 65.5% women) between the ages of 43 and 89 (average 69.0 +/- 10.3 years); 26.4% had never attended school, 59.1% had primary education, and 87.3% had no payed occupation. Most of the patients reported daily difficulties due to their ocular condition (82.7%), and 54.0% reported fear of visual loss. Doubt as to the outcome (32.7%), distress (26.4%), and sadness (25.5%) were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the patients reported difficulties in daily activities as a consequence of cataract. Fear was the predominant feeling related to undergoing surgery. The findings suggest the need for implementing intervention courses for emotional preparation for facing daily activities and cataract surgery.