The Efficacy of Questionnaire-based Evaluation in Determining the Incidence of Recent Pseudophakic Dysphotopsia

Abstract

Abstract Background: Dysphotopsias are optical side effects experienced by patients who underwent cataract surgery. This unwanted photic phenomenon has gained ground and is a major postoperative concern. Visual acuity is not sufficient in evaluating the postoperative visual function. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of using a preexistent questionnaire in determining the presence of dysphotopsia. Material and method: We conducted a prospective study, using the modified Visual Function Index (VF-14) and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) surveys, completed on patients that underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation between November 2016 and November 2017. Patients included in the study had no known ocular comorbidities and had no other possible postoperative explanation for these visual phenomena. Three weeks after the surgery, the questionnaire was filled up by one individual examiner. Results: Of the 50 patients considered, 37 patients met all the inclusion criteria and were successfully enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 75.88 years. Dysphotopsia phenomena were present in 13.51% of cases; 60% of these patients described the presence of positive dysphotopsia, and 40% complained of temporal shadows. The best corrected visual acuity was over 0.8 in 75.67% of the cases. Conclusion: Although there is no objective test to diagnose this early postoperative complication, pseudophakic dysphotopsia should not be overlooked and additional chair time is needed.