Emotional aspects of cataract surgery.

A retrospective study of fourteen elderly patients, all of whom had undergone cataract extractions with lens implantation was undertaken. Issues pertaining to pre-, post-, and intraoperative anxiety were investigated as were questions about changes in mood, energy level, activity, and severity of non-ophthalmologic medical conditions. Also, an investigation was made into the accuracy of the patient's perception of the technical aspects of the procedure and the extent to which they found technical information on the procedure either desirable or anxiety provoking. Little effect was found in terms of changes in mood, general perceptions of health, or activity. Issues somewhat peripheral to the actual surgical procedure were found to be the most anxiety provoking while confidence in the surgeon and reassurance from friends who have had the procedure were found to be the most anxiety relieving. The well-educated patients seemed to lack any technical knowledge of the procedure itself and in many cases found this information to be anxiety provoking.