Visual acuity and depressive symptoms before and after first eye cataract surgery in elderly patients

Abstract

© 2017, Serbian Medical Society. All rights reserved. Aim. The aim of this research is to determine the potential impact of visual acuity on the occurrence of depressive symptoms in elderly patients before and after first eye cataract surgery, using the method of phacoemulsification. Methods. The study lasted from May 2015 until May 2016 in the Eye Clinics, Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Serbia. The total number of patients was 435, 234 men and 201 women. The patients who participated in the study were required to complete the GDS-15 scale. The GDS-15 scale was filled out twice, two weeks prior to surgery and four weeks after surgery. Results. Statistical analysis showed that a significant difference exists in the level of visual acuity before and after surgery (p<0.001). The results of the GDS-15 scale before and after cataract surgery indicated a significant difference (p<0.003). Further group testing of depressive symptoms before and after surgery has shown: without symptoms (p<0.003), mild symptoms (p<0.002), moderate symptoms (p<0.001) and severe symptoms (p<0.004). The visual acuity in the non-operated eye has an important role in depressive symptoms before (p<0.002) and after (p<0.001) cataract surgery. Conclusions. The study found that a statistically significant difference exists between the loss of visual acuity and the occurrence of depressive symptoms before and after first eye cataract surgery. Visual acuity is a very important factor in reducing depressive symptoms in older patients.