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Duration of self assessed benefit of cataract extraction: a long term study
1Department of Ophthalmology, Blekinge Hospital, SE-371 85 Karlskrona, Sweden. mats.lundstrom@ltblekinge.se
Aim:
To investigate how long patients' improved visual function lasts after a cataract extraction.
Methods:
Patients' self assessed visual function was evaluated using the Catquest questionnaire both before and 6 months after a cataract extraction. The study population consisted of 615 patients undergoing a cataract extraction during 1995-2002. A final follow up with a new questionnaire was performed in 2003, between 1 year and 8 years after surgery.
Results:
445 (72.4%) patients were alive at follow up and agreed to participate in the study. The number of subjects still showing improved visual function after surgery decreased with longer follow up. After 7 years, 80% had improved visual function compared with before surgery. 50% of all originally operated subjects were alive 7 years postoperatively and enjoyed better visual function than they had done before surgery. Ocular co-morbidity in the operated eye or self assessed poor visual function before surgery was significantly related to deteriorated visual function at follow up.
Conclusion:
The number of subjects who experienced improved visual function after a cataract extraction decreased over the course of time postoperatively. Presence of ocular co-morbidity was significantly related to worsened function.