Recovery Of Self-Sufficiency And Need For Assistance After Simultaneous Bilateral Cataract Surgery
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PPE.01 | Type: ESONT Abstract | DOI: 10.82333/sjwa-pd90
Authors: Mia Vestergaard Bendixen* 1 , Marianne Bach Nielsen 1 , Anders Hessellund 2
1Elective Surgery Center,Silkeborg Regional Hospital,Silkeborg,Denmark, 2Department of Ophthalmology,Aarhus University Hospital,Aarhus,Denmark
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate how quickly patients could manage daily activities independently after simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery and whether they required the presence of a caregiver during the first postoperative day.
Setting
The study was conducted at a specialized cataract surgery clinic. All patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery between November 2024 and February 2025 were included in the study.
Methods
A questionnaire was sent to 101 patients who had undergone simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery. Patients were asked about their need for assistance with daily activities - including meal preparation, reading, mobility/orientation, and self-administration of eye drops - immediately after they arrived home and again 24 hours postoperatively. A total of 70% of patients responded. Additionally, the patients were asked about the need for a caregiver on the first postoperative day. Data were analyzed and related to patient age, sex, education level and distance to clinic.
Results
Most patients regained self-sufficiency immediately after they arrived home; mobility/orientation (83%), meal preparation (69%), reading (45%). There was a notable and statistically significant decrease in the need for help 24 hours postoperatively. 53% of patients still needed help with eye drops administration. However, 54% of patients indicated that they did not need the help of a caregiver at all on the first postoperative day.
Conclusions
Simultaneous bilateral cataract surgery enables a rapid return to self-sufficiency, thereby reducing the overall burden on caregivers. However, a significant portion of patients benefit from having a caregiver present during the first postoperative day. Further analyses are needed to identify which patients are most likely to require caregiver support in this early postoperative period. Effective postoperative management and patient education remain crucial for optimizing recovery and minimizing complications.