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Cataract and mental health: Impact of cataract surgery on the psychosocial challenges faced by people affected by the condition in India

 

Elizabeth Kurian and Pankaj Vishwakarma from Mission for Vision write about the psychological impact of cataract surgery analysed using their system PRISM.

 

• Participation in social events
• Feelings of embarrassment
• Feelings of being a burden on others
• Worry of losing remaining eyesight
• Worry about falling and injuring oneself
• Difficulties in activities of daily living

Background of subjects covered by the study

The ratio of men to women was largely equal, with 529 women among the 1,012 subjects. 92% were over age 50, amongst which the majority were between 50 and 64 years of age. 60% were illiterate, while the rest had had some level of schooling. Almost three-fifths of the subjects were married, most of the rest were widowed.

 

70% had poor visual acuity (<6/60) before surgery, and, encouragingly, the vast majority (92%) recorded vision in the good category (6/6 – 6/18) with best correction, six-months after the cataract surgery.

 

Impact of cataract surgery on psychosocial dimensions

The results of the study indicate the positive impact of good quality cataract surgery on various psychosocial dimensions. While over 80% reported concerns with all the six parameters before their surgery – in mild, moderate or severe degrees – a similar number (80.2%) stated no concern whatsoever with the same parameters six months after the surgery (see the table below).  The parameters the subjects were most concerned with before the surgery were “worry over losing remaining eyesight” and “falling and injuring themselves”, with almost three quarters of them reporting these concerns. Losing remaining eye sight remained the main concern for 20% even after cataract surgery.

 

 

Table: Impact of cataract surgery on psychosocial aspects of life

 

Positive impact on mental health

The findings of this study clearly demonstrate the benefit of cataract surgery on psychosocial parameters, which in turn, impacts positively on the mental health of visually impaired people. Vision loss due to cataract is largely among an elderly population. Therefore timely treatment will have secondary benefits for a group facing other challenges due to the ageing process.

 

Blindness is a public health issue in India and many other countries. So, the benefits of addressing it appropriately has enormous economic and mental health implications for all. It is important that organisations working with ageing, disability and public health include these learnings. Mental health policies of countries, national and international bodies must also acknowledge such impact.

 

Originally posted in IAPB's blog: https://www.iapb.org/news/cataract-mental-health/