Journal of International Psychiatry

[Abstract] Objective To explore the impact of anxiety on dry eye symptoms and related quality of life after cataract surgery. Methods Ninety-seven cataract patients from February 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Postoperative evaluation of anxiety was conducted and divided into anxiety group and non anxiety group based on the evaluation results. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Dry Eye Subjective Symptoms and Signs Score, Visual Function Score (VF), and Chinese Version of Visual Function Index Scale (VF-14-CN) one week after surgery were evaluated. The correlation between HAMA score in anxiety group and the above indicators were analyzed. Results Postoperative anxiety was detected in 28 out of 97 cataract patients. The subjective dry eye score of the anxiety group was significantly higher than that of the non anxiety group, and the tear film rupture time (BUT) and tear secretion test were significantly lower than those of the non anxiety group (P<0.05). The VF score and VF-14-CN score of the anxiety group were significantly lower than those of the non anxiety group (P<0.05). The HAMA score in the anxiety group was positively correlated with the subjective dry eye score, but negatively correlated with BUT, tear secretion test, VF score, and VF-14-CN score (P<0.05). Conclusion Anxiety is common after cataract surgery, which may worsen dry eye symptoms and reduce visual function and visual related quality of life.

Key words Anxiety; Cataract; Postoperative; Xerophthalmia; Quality of Life