Vision related daily life problems in patients waiting for a cataract extraction

Problems in daily life activities caused by bad vision were studied in 150 patients with cataract before and 6 months after a cataract extraction. A relation was found between binocular visual acuity before surgery and the number of problems experienced (p < 0.001). After cataract extraction a reduction in problems was closely associated with an increase in visual acuity (p < 0.001) and also, in the patients' opinion, a better life situation (p < 0.001). Six questions to be answered when considering surgery are given.