Influence of cataract surgery for the first or second eye on vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) and the predictive factors of VR-QOL improvement

Purpose To assess improvements in vision-related quality of life (VR-QOL) in patients undergoing their first or second eye cataract surgery, as well as clinical factors related to VR-QOL. Study design Prospective case series. Methods We examined 282 patients undergoing their first (222) or second (60) eye cataract surgery. VR-QOL was evaluated before and after surgery using the 25-item National Eye Institute visual function questionnaire (VFQ-25), along with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), uncorrected visual acuity, and the lens opacities classification system III (LOCSIII). The resulting VFQ-25 subscale scores were compared between patients undergoing their first or second eye cataract surgery, including multiple regression analysis. Results The mean VFQ-25 composite score (CS) was 71.5 ± 14.2 before and 84.0 ± 10.2 after the first eye cataract surgery and 73.5 ± 12.7 before and 85.4 ± 10.2 after the second eye cataract surgery. VFQ-25 scores improved significantly, with reduced disparity among patients after surgery in both groups. Preoperative CS was related to the preoperative sum of the BCVA (standardized partial regression coefficient (β) = − 0.254, P