Purpose:

To analyze indicators of social impact in patients with senile cataract treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

Material and methods:

Patients ≥ 60 years, better corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ≥ 0.6 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) and senile cataract treated with PHACO + IOL for cases and incipient senile cataract without surgical treatment with MVCA < 0.6 LogMAR for controls. Exclusion criteria; pathologies that modify the quality of life. The WHOQOL-OLD test was applied: presurgical, one postoperative month and three postoperative months.

Results:

54 controls and 56 cases were included. The preoperative BCVA was 1.57 ± 1.041, third month was 0.68 ± 0.7817 (p < 0.001). The results of the preoperative WHOQOL-OLD survey vs the third month: INT 12.96 versus 11.06 (p < 0001); DAD, 10.48 versus 6.389 (p < 0.00001); SOP 12.07 versus 13.76 (p < 0.0007) and SAB, 13.02 versus 8.648 (p < 0.0001). The survey of the 3rd month versus the controls: INT 9.66 versus 11.06 (p < 0.001); PPF, 13.89 versus 12.39 (p < 0.001) and AUT 12.47 versus 10.15 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Patients, present an improvement in the BCVA that is reflected in the quality of life, this can be interpreted as positive results and should be taken into account to support the surgical indication.