QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AFTER SURGICAL INTERVENTION AT THE CLINIC FOR EYE DISEASES TUZLA

Abstract

Visual impairment negatively affects the quality of life of people and it is an important parameter of the outcome of treatment of patients diagnosed with cataracts, glaucoma, strabismus or injuries. The goal of the research was to assess the psychological aspects of the quality of life of patients with the above-mentioned diagnoses.

The research included 99 patients of both sexes, who, after surgery at the Clinic for Eye Diseases Tuzla, were monitored on an outpatient basis in the Clinic's Specialist Outpatient Clinic. For the purposes of the research, the Vision Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), version 2000, was used.

The age of the respondents ranged from 5 to 78 years. The majority of respondents were men 50 (50.50%). The average chronological age of male respondents is 47.50±21.56 years, and female respondents 50.12±20.85. In the total sample, 45.5% of respondents have cataracts, 29.3% glaucoma, 11.1% strabismus and 14.1% have an eye injury. Of these 99 respondents, 47.5% consider their health to be average, 44.4% consider it to be above average, while 8.1% of respondents consider it to be below average. A higher percentage of male respondents have glaucoma (38%) and injuries/trauma (20%) compared to female respondents. A higher percentage of female respondents (55.1%) state that their quality of life is above average, while the percentage of male respondents is 34%. The quality of life is average for 56% of male respondents and 38.8% of female respondents. The results of the chi-square test showed that there is no statistically significant difference in relation to the gender and quality of life of the respondents (χ2= 4.48; df= 2; p= 0.106).  The results of the univariate analysis of variance in relation to the cause of visual impairment, and the vision problems experienced by the subjects showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the subjects in relation to the cause of visual impairment. In relation to the overall results of vision problems, it may be concluded that subjects with cataracts and glaucoma at the statistical significance level of 0.05 state that they have more vision problems compared to subjects with strabismus and injury. Subjects with cataracts at the significance level of 0.05 state that they have more vision problems compared to subjects with glaucoma. Although the self-assessment of the psychological and spiritual components of the quality of life of the subjects gave satisfactory results, it is necessary to provide specific support in order to prevent and eliminate negative reactions to the postoperative condition of operated patients.