Evaluation of Impact of Cataract Surgery on Socioeconomic Indicators in Bilateral Cataract Blindness

Background Cataract is a common problem that impacts vision-related quality of life.Aims and Objectives To evaluate the changes in daily living activities and levels of independence among individuals following cataract surgery to assess the impact of cataract surgery on social participation and overall quality of life and to develop and validate a questionnaire designed to collect data from patients with bilateral cataracts.Methods This was a hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study conducted including 160 patients diagnosed with bilateral cataracts who attended community clinics and camps at M.M. Joshi Eye Institute in Hubli Karnataka. Participants were selected using stratified random sampling to ensure representation across different age groups genders and socioeconomic statuses.Results The present study showed that quality of life significantly improved after surgery in four areas mobility mean change 0.24 t159 -2.43 P0.016 social mean change 0.61 t159 -5.35 P lt0.001 self-care mean change 0.58 t159 5.67 P lt0.001 and functional capacity mean change 0.22 t159 -2.28 P0.024. Interestingly compared to people over 60 those between the ages of 40 and 59 showed more notable gains in mobility social engagement and functional capacity.Conclusion Cataract surgery significantly improved the quality of life and socioeconomic status of individuals with bilateral cataract blindness underscoring the importance of accessible surgical interventions in enhancing patient well-being.nbsp