Quality of Life of Cataract Patients Before and After Surgery-Evidence From Four Rural Communities in Ghana

¹Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

²Department of Optometry, Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: Angela Ofeibea Amedo, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, B8 COS Building, KNUST-Kumasi, Ghana. Tel: +233242515080; E-Mail: [email protected]

Received Date: 27 Apr 2016   
Accepted Date: 07 Jun 2016  
Published Date: 13 Jun 2016

Copyright © 2016 Amedo AO

Citation: Amedo AO, Koomson NY, Pascal TM, Kumah DB, et al. (2016). Quality of Life of Cataract Patients Before and After Surgery-Evidence From Four Rural Communities in Ghana. Mathews J Ophthalmol. 1(1): 003.

ABSTRACT

Background:Cataract is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide and the quality of life of such patients is reported to be low. Cataract surgery has been reported to improve the quality of life of patients in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life of cataract patients before and after surgery in four rural communities in Ghana.

Methods:Seventy patients who had been scheduled for cataract surgery at hospitals in the rural communities were studied using a slightly modified National EyeInstitute’s Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) before the surgery and two months after surgery. Visual acuity was assessed using a Snellen Chart at 6 metres. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results:70 participants aged 12 to 99 years comprising 52.3% females were interviewed before surgery and 13(18.57%) were lost to follow up after surgery. There was significant improvement in all subscale scores (p < 0.001) and an 18.48 points increase in the composite score. Improvement in visual acuity and reduction in visual impairment after surgery were significant. Patients who could not perform certain daily living activities resumed such activities two months after cataract surgery.

Conclusion:Cataract surgery improved the quality of life in patients living in the rural communities and underscores the need to increase the rate of cataract surgery in developing countries and low income settings.