Preoperative and Surgical Factors That Correlate With the Highest Patient-Reported Satisfaction With Multifocal IOLs
Purpose
To determine which pre- and post-operative factors in cataract surgery with multifocal IOLs correlate with the highest patient-reported satisfaction.
Methods
We collected data on patients undergoing cataract surgery with a multifocal lens (Tecnis, Abbott) in both eyes. Pre- and post-operative examination data and a 60 day post-op patient questionnaire data were collected and analyzed.
Results
Surveys were collected from 169 patients. Overall, 96% of multifocal patients were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their results. Complete spectacle independence, achieved by 56% of multifocal patients significantly correlated with patients being “extremely satisfied” (odds ratio 1.3, P < 0.04). Residual astigmatism of ≤ 0.75 D, which occurred in 86% of patients undergoing astigmatic keratotomy, resulted in 80% of patients being “extremely satisfied” (odds ratio 1.4, P < 0.03).
Conclusion
Complete spectacle independence and reduction of astigmatism to less than 0.75D correlated significantly with patient satisfaction in this study. Achievement of these outcomes is possible in a majority of patients with methodical pre-operative measurements and adherence to sound principles of surgical execution.