Evaluation of vision-related and general health-related quality of life before and after cataract surgery

Koçak, Y. (2026). Evaluation of Vision-Related and General Health–Related Quality of Life Before and After Cataract Surgery. Master's Thesis, Istanbul Atlas University, Graduate School of Education, Department of Surgical Nursing, Istanbul. Cataract is one of the most common causes of reversible vision loss worldwide. It negatively affects quality of life by leading to decreased visual acuity and limitations in daily living activities. Cataract surgery, which involves the removal of the opacified lens and implantation of an intraocular lens, is currently a highly successful and effective treatment method. In the preoperative period, patients often experience difficulties in daily activities such as reading and driving due to reduced visual acuity, and psychosocial effects are frequently observed. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate changes in patients' visual functions and quality of life before and after cataract surgery. Data collection was carried out between April 2024 and November 2024 after obtaining ethical approval. A total of 110 patients aged between 17 and 83 years, who were fully oriented to time and place, cooperative, volunteered to participate, and provided written informed consent, were included in the study. Data were collected before and after surgery using the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale), the NEI VFQ-25/TR (National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire), and a Descriptive Characteristics Form. Data analysis was performed using R (R Core Team, 2024), Microsoft Excel, and SPSS 20.0 statistical software. A p value of <0.05 was accepted as the level of statistical significance.