Comparison of pain perception in immediate vs delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Outcomes
• Pain Management

Background:

• Cataract surgery is a common procedure with varying patient-reported outcomes.
• Understanding pain perception differences between sequential bilateral cataract surgery approaches is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient-reported pain perception between immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) and delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS).

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study enrolled 90 patients undergoing ISBCS or DSBCS with topical anesthesia and no sedation.
• Pain scores were assessed using a verbal numeric rating scale at 0, 1, and 7 days post-surgery.
• A linear mixed-effects model analyzed pain score differences, adjusting for covariates.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in pain scores was observed between ISBCS and DSBCS groups at any time point.
• Pain levels decreased significantly over time in both groups.
• Surgical duration and higher patient education levels were associated with increased pain scores.

Conclusions:

• Cataract surgery pain is generally mild and transient, regardless of whether it's performed immediately or delayed sequentially.
• Patient education level impacts pain perception, highlighting the need for effective preoperative counseling.