Comprehensive assessment of phacoemulsification effect on psychoemotional state of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Aim: to evaluate phacoemulsification effect on quality of life and psychoemotional state of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and Methods: the study included 88 patients (average age: 64.1±7.0 years) with POAG associated with complicated cataracts. 47 (53.4%) women and 41 (46.6%) men were enrolled. II and III stages of POAG were diagnosed in 57 (64.7%) and 31 (35.3%) patients, respectively. All subjects underwent routine ophthalmological examinations (visometry, autorefractometry, optical biometry, Maklakov tonometry, computerised static perimetry, biomicroscopy, gonioscopy, and direct ophthalmoscopy). In all the cases, standardized phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was performed, and quality of life was assessed by general (VAS), specific (VFQ-25) and psychological (HADS) questionnaires before the surgery and in 1 month after it. The patients filled out the questionnaires independently within 20 minutes. Results: the analysis revealed a significant increase in visual acuity, intraocular pressure stabilization and improvement of MD index according to static automated perimetry data. According to the non-specific VAS questionnaire, general health was 63.1±9.0 and 70.0±10.2 scores before and after the surgery, respectively (p<0.05). As per the specific VFQ-25 questionnaire, a total score was 609.2 before the surgery, and it increased to 735 scores (p<0.05) of 1,100 possible ones after the treatment. A significant improvement was reported in such scales as General Health, General Vision, Distance Vision, Peripheral Vision, Social Functioning and Mental Health. Pursuant to the psychological HADS questionnaire, patients had a pre-operative subclinical anxiety and depression; after the surgery, anxiety indicators stabilized and there were no changes in signs of depression. Conclusion: the general and specific QoL questionnaires are informative and easy-to-use. As they are intercomplementary, medical staff can evaluate and understand subjective feelings of a patient in more detail. Assessment of quality of life in patients with POAG who underwent a surgery for complicated cataracts, provides a follow-up of patients' return to their normal lives and, if necessary, management of their psychoemotional state. KEYWORDS: primary open-angle glaucoma, cataract, quality of life, treatment effectiveness. FOR CITATION: Kurbanov S.A. Comprehensive assessment of phacoemulsification effect on psychoemotional state of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2025;25(2):142–145 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2311-7729-2025-25-2-10