Outcome of cataract surgery I. A prospective, observational study

In this prospective study outcome assessment comprise what happens to the patient in terms of symptom level and quality of life, patients' contentment with benefit of treatment, problems of aphakic rehabilitation besides postoperative visual acuity and complication rates. 114 cataract patients were observed until 1 year after surgery. 82% of the patients obtained a final visual acuity of 0.5 or better. 26% of the patients were dissatisfied with outcome of surgery and stated no improvement in quality of life. Two main reasons for dissatisfaction were found: macular disease and the defects of vision through aphakic spectacle lenses. In fact 75% of the spectacle-corrected monaphakic patients had complaints about the quality of vision. Most satisfied were the monaphakic patients with contact lenses and biaphakic patients irrespective to method of aphakic correction.