Subjective Opinions of Patients About Step-by-Step Cataract Surgery Preparation

PURPOSE: We analyzed the subjective feelings and opinions of patients regarding modified cataract phacoemulsification procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A consecutive case series of patients undergoing phacoemulsification of cataracts, who completed questionnaires designed by the authors to evaluate their subjective opinions about hospital admission, medical examination, and intraoperative procedures carried out at the operating theater. RESULTS: Two hundred patients (82 men and 118 women) were included in the study. Subjects aged ≥65 years more often than younger respondents presented negative opinions about hospital admission procedures (15% vs. 2.5%, p=0.032) and were less satisfied with physicians’ explanations about the matter of phacoemulsification (71.3% vs. 92.5%, p=0.004), type of artificial lens to be implanted (43.8% vs. 85%, p<0.001), and potential complications (69.4% vs. 95%, p<0.001). The most unpleasant intraoperative experiences included venipuncture (35.5%), artificial lens implantation (30.5%), and peeling off of a sterile surgical drape (24%). CONCLUSION: Persons aged ≥65 years presented with negative opinions about routine procedures related to phacoemulsification. Older age seems to be associated with less tolerance to time-consuming bureaucratic procedures and a lesser understanding of the specific stages of the surgery. Older patients should be notified in advance about all routine procedures to be carried out and provided with a rationale for these activities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on clinicaltrials. gov (NCT04327856).