Abstract
Cataract is a significant cause of blindness in the global population. The objective of
this descriptive study was to study visual function (VF) and the quality of life (QOL) in 32
cataract patients treated by phacoemulsification at Bangnamprieo Hospital from January
to April 2007. Information was obtained before and one month after the intervention.
The patients were 12 men and 20 women, aged 50-82 years, with 62 years being the average.
Half of them had no occupation; average family income was 57,769 baht per year.
They suffered low vision for 23 months on average. The VF and QOL scores after one
month of treatment were higher than before, and the VF scores positively correlated to
the QOL scores (r =.567, p <.01). In conclusion, the present study shows higher visual
function and better quality of life scores after the intervention by phacoemulsification
together with the standard of care. The authors recommend this particular measure for
tackling cataract disease in community hospitals without full-time ophthalmologists, in
order to increase the health of the Thai population and improve the quality of life of the
people.
