Correlation between depression and vision in aged patients before and after cataract operations

To investigate the association between depression and vision, 100 cataract operation patients (25 were men and 75 women) aged 71 to 76 years were studied. One day before the operation and 3 mo. after, the patients' depression was tested with the short form of the Beck Depression Inventory and their personalities with Mini-Mult MMPI. The cataract operation restored visual acuity sufficient for reading (minimum E-test value 0.40) to 79% of the subjects. The analysis indicated that their depression was significantly correlated with vision only after the cataract operation. Depression increased with weakened visual acuity and diminished with improved visual acuity. Part of the postoperation depression was, however, associated with glaucoma and serious somatic diseases (asthma, cerebrovascular disorders, and heart diseases).