[Evaluation of quality of life of patients after phacoemulsification with accommodating lens implantation].

Introduction: Intraocular lens implantation is an important part of cataract surgery, as it has a significant influence on the final result. Accommodative intraocular lenses (IOLs) are the latest solution for the lack of accommodation in pseudophakic eyes.
Purpose: To evaluate the quality of life of patients who underwent cataract surgery with accommodating IOL implantation and to compare the data with results of patients after standard monofocal IOL implantation.
Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 20 patients (40 eyes), aged from 48 to 73 years old, who underwent phacoemulsification through a 2.75 mm clear corneal incision followed by the implantation of an accommodating IOL Crystalens HD (Bausch & Lomb, USA). The control group consisted of 20 patients (40 eyes), aged from 63 to 83 years old, who underwent phacoemulsification through a 2.75 mm clear corneal incision followed by the implantation of a standard monofocal single-piece acrylic intraocular lens AcrySof (Alcon, USA). All enrolled patients had no coexisting ocular diseases which could influence the final visual acuity. All surgeries were uneventful. At one month postoperatively, the patients were requested to answer 36 questions included in the questionnaire in order to evaluate the quality of visual function.
Results: There was a significant improvement in the quality of life in both groups after cataract surgery. The study group tended to assess their own eyesight higher than the control group. Patients from the study group use spectacle correction for a lower number of activities, they find it easier to use fine motor skills when performing activities without spectacle correction in comparison with patients from the control group. Patients from the study group use spectacle correction for reading significantly less frequently, they also find it easier to read the normal size and small print without spectacle correction, in comparison with patients from the control group.
Conclusions: Patients with accommodating IOLs self-evaluate their own eyesight highly, use spectacle correction for a lower number of activities and find it significantly easier to perform precise activities without spectacle correction, in comparison with patients after the standard monofocal intraocular lens implantation.