Comparison of auditory sensations in patients who underwent cataract phacoemulsification surgery in the first and second eye.

To compare subjective auditory sensations of patients during the first and second eye cataract surgeries. Consecutive patients who underwent phacoemulsification of the first eye (group I) and second eye (group II) completed questionnaires designed to evaluate their auditory sensations in the operating room including background music, sound of working equipment, staff conversations, and surgeon's voice. This study included 124 patients in group I and 76 patients in group II. Patients most often heard nursing staff's conversations (91.9% and 96%, respectively, p > 0.05), surgeon's voice (87.9% and 86.8%, respectively, p > 0.05), and music (70.9% and 75%, respectively, p > 0.05). Music was the most pleasant experience (78.2% and 78.9%, respectively, p > 0.05). The sound of the working phacoemulsifier was the most undesirable sound (20.2% and 15.8%, respectively, p > 0.05). Patients in group II more often indicated that none of the sounds required elimination (69.7% and 52.6%, respectively, p = 0.013) or that staff conversations should be eliminated (13.2% and 3.1%, respectively, p = 0.005). The most desirable sounds during phacoemulsification include music and the surgeon's voice regarding the procedure. The most unpleasant sound was that that of phacoemulsifier. The commonest sounds to be eliminated in groups I and II included those of equipment and staff conversations.

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).

Comparison of Subjective Preoperative Experiences of Patients Before First- or Second-Eye Cataract Surgeries.

PURPOSE: To compare the subjective preoperative experiences of patients undergoing their first- or second-cataract surgeries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing phacoemulsification were asked to complete postoperative questionnaires evaluating their subjective preoperative experiences, including their emotional state, decision-making process, and opinions on the admission and examination processes, medical interviews, and quality of service. The obtained data were compared between patients undergoing their first (group I)- or second (group II)-cataract surgeries. RESULTS: Two hundred patients (group I, 124; group II, 76) were included in the evaluation. Presurgical anxiety was more prevalent in group I than in group II (55.7% vs 34.2%, P = 0.005). Fear was the major trigger for reconsidering the decision to undergo surgery, with 29% and 13.2% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, considering abandoning the operation (P = 0.016). The preoperative medical examination was reported to be sufficiently accurate by 66.1% and 80.3% of patients in groups I and II, respectively (P = 0.047), while 28.2% and 21% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, did not understand the information presented about possible complications of surgery (P = 0.039). Administration of eyedrops before surgery was uncomfortable for 71.4% and 68.4% of patients in groups I and II, respectively (P = 0.553), while 22.6% and 9.2% of patients in groups I and II, respectively, found repeated administration of drops to be highly uncomfortable (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Patients experienced greater anxiety before their first-cataract surgery than before their second-cataract surgery. Moreover, many patients from both groups did not understand the medical information provided by doctors regarding the surgery and its possible complications. The most unpleasant stage of preparation for cataract surgery was repeated administration of eyedrops. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on clinicaltrial.gov under the number NCT04327856.