Beyond The Scalpel: Factors Affecting Pain Perception During Phacoemulsification

The purpose of this poster is to identify risk factors affecting pain perception during phacoemulsification and to evaluate the correlation between anxiety level and pain perception. We hope to use the results of this research to improve patients' subjective experience by reducing pain levels and anxiety during phacoemulsification.

The study was performed at the Ophthalmology department in General Hospital “prim.  dr. Abdulah Nakas” Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina between June 2022 and December 2022. It included 187 patients undergoing phacoemulsification for the first eye under topical anesthesia.

After the surgery had been performed and the patient taken to the recovery room, they were given previously structured questionaries and provided help in reading and answering the questions regarding their preoperative anxiety level (0 to 10) and intraoperative pain perception (0 to 10 using the Numerical Rating Scale). The resident assistant completed the questionnaire about the patient sex, age, type of cataract using LOCS classification, time and date of the surgery, waiting period for the surgery, and objective duration of the surgery. Blood pressure was measured preoperatively and used as an objective measure of anxiety level that can contribute to increased pain perception during phacoemulsification.

The study observed that the majority of patients experienced level two pain during the surgery, with a slightly higher prevalence among males compared to females (29.67% and 27.84% respectively). Similarly, anxiety levels exhibit a comparable pattern, with most patients reporting level 2 anxiety, with males displaying a slightly broader distribution. To further investigate the relationship between pain perception and various factors, Pearson correlation tests were conducted. The results revealed a significant correlation (p<0.05) between pain perception and patient gender (r=0.151), light sensitivity (r=-0.149), and preoperative blood pressure (r=-0.178). However, no significant correlations were found between pain and other variables.