Impact of cataract surgery on quality of life in patients with early age-related macular degeneration

• Published in: Optometry and vision science Vol. 84; no. 8; pp. 683 - 688
• Main Authors: Lamoureux, Ecosse L, Hooper, Claire Y, Lim, Lyndell, Pallant, Julie F, Hunt, Nicola, Keeffe, Jill E, Guymer, Robyn H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2007
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cataract - complications; Cataract Extraction; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Macular Degeneration - complications; Macular Degeneration - physiopathology; Macular Degeneration - psychology; Male; Quality of Life; Sickness Impact Profile; Time Factors; Visual Acuity
• ISSN: 1040-5488
• DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e31812f755f

To investigate if cataract surgery improves overall and specific areas of quality of life (QoL) in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using the impact of vision impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Patients with visually significant cataract and early AMD, who were being considered for cataract surgery in the study eye, were recruited. Eligible patients were randomized to either "early surgery" or "standard surgery" (standard cataract surgery waiting time of 6 months) groups. The IVI, sociodemographic, and clinical data were collected. Rasch analysis was used to estimate QoL person measures at baseline and follow-up. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d coefficient. Fifty six patients (mean age = 78.5 years and visual acuity = 6/15) had one eye randomly allocated to either the early surgery (n = 29) or standard surgery (n = 27) groups. At follow-up, significant interaction effects were found for the overall IVI score [F(1,54) = 17.7; p < 0.001], the emotional well-being [F(1,54) = 13.4; p = 0.001], mobility and independence [F(1,54) = 13.4; p = 0.001], and reading and accessing information subscales [F(1,54) = 13.1; p = 0.001]. The standard surgery group systematically recorded worse scores at 6 months on all QoL measures whereas the early surgery group recorded significant gains (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.66 to 0.91) on all of them. Visual acuity in the study eye significantly improved in the early surgery group only (Cohen's d = 1.1; p < 0.05) and improvement in log MAR lines read was identified as the single independent predictor of enhanced QoL explaining between 26 and 34% of the variance in the IVI scores. Cataract surgery is justified in patients with early AMD. It brings significant improvements in visual acuity, aspects of daily living, and overall QoL.