Spectacle compliance postcataract surgery significantly improved vision function-related quality of life of adult patients in India: Evidence from a multicenter longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND: Cataract is the leading cause of avoidable blindness globally. This study aims to measure the changes in Vision function-related quality of life (VFQoL) before and after cataract surgery and identify the predictors of an improvement in these outcomes. METHODS: A multicenter, longitudinal cohort study was conducted. Patients with first eye cataracts were interviewed before and 6 months after cataract surgery. Multiple classification analysis (MCA) was performed to assess variation in the intensities of mean change scores for general function, psychosocial impact, and visual function with select factors. RESULTS: A total of 747 participated in the baseline assessment. The 6-month follow-up rate was 86.5%. The mean general function, psychosocial impact, and visual function scores were 35.3 (±8.6), 12.5 (±3.4), and 8.3 (±3) in the baseline and 17 (±5.3), 6 (±2.2) and 3.8 (±1.3) in the follow-up assessments, respectively. In MCA, patients using spectacles postsurgery (β 0.111) and those having a very good postoperative visual acuity (β 0.098) had the most impact on general function. Patients reporting no ocular complaints postsurgery had a relatively higher effect on the psychosocial impact, (β 0.168) and similarly, patients using spectacles postsurgery and those aged 70 and older had the most impact on the visual function scores (β 0.146 and 0.126), respectively. CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery is associated with meaningful improvements in vision and VFQoL in general. The determinants of better VFQoL include the usage of spectacles postsurgery. Strategies to further improve patient participation in postoperative review visits are needed for spectacle provision and patient education regarding spectacle use and compliance is imparted during such visits.