| PurposeTo compare the perceived pain and estimated operative duration among patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery and to demonstrate correlations with the surgical interval and the demographic and medical characteristics of the patients.MethodsA total of 466 patients with cataract who underwent ocular surgery were included.The patients estimated the perceived operative duration and pain they felt during the operation at two times,immediately after surgery and on the first postoperative day;pain was scored using a visual analog scale ranging from 0(no pain)to 10(unbearable pain).The pain scores and operative duration of the first eye and second eye were compared through paired t-tests.Patients undergoing bilateral surgeries were divided into 4 subgroups based on the interval between the two operations(1,2,4,or 6 weeks).The pain scores of the first eye and second eye were compared in each subgroup.Measurement data following a normal distribution are presented as the mean and standard deviation(SD).Student’s t-test was used to determine differences between two groups,and paired t-tests were used for within-group comparisons.Comparisons among multiple groups were made by ANOVA.Categorical data are presented as percentages of patients and were compared by chi-squared tests(2 tests).The factors influencing the pain score and operative duration were found through multiple linear regression analysis.Results1.Pain scores of first eye and second eyeIn general,the pain score was 1.46 ± 1.83 for the first surgical eye and 1.73 ± 1.75 for the second surgical eye when evaluated immediately after the surgery(P = 0.043).On the first postoperative day,the scores were 1.39 ± 1.79 and 1.76 ± 1.77,respectively(P = 0.002).Theestimated operative durations were 9.59 ± 3.97 minutes and 10.62 ± 3.38 minutes,respectively(P = 0.001).The results showed that the patients who had the second eye surgery would feel more pain than those who had the first eye surgery.2.The correlation of pain score and the interval time of first eye and second eye surgeryThere were no significant differences of the pain scores of the first and second surgical eyes when checked immediately and postoperative day one among patients who underwent bilateral surgery at an interval of 1 week(immediately: 1.91±2.08&1.81±1.85,P =0.745;postoperative day one : 1.33±1.78&1.79±1.82,P =0.053),4 weeks(immediately:1.09±1.46&1.35±1.48,P=0.125;postoperative day one :1.14±1.52&1.42±1.58,P =0.103),or6 weeks(immediately: 1.52±2.02&1.76±1.81,P=0.581;postoperative day one:1.72±2.11&1.72&1.79,P >0.999).However,when the surgical interval was 2 weeks,the pain score of the second surgery was significantly higher than that of the first surgery,for both immediately checked results(1.29±1.7&2.09±1.85,P =0.002)and one day after surgery(1.53±1.89&2.18±1.91,P =0.022).The estimated operative duration showed the same trend.The duration showed no significant difference when the interval time were 1 week(8.95±2.79&9.53±3.75 minutes,P =0.229),4 weeks(9.65±4.28&10.47±3.24 minutes,P=0.212)and 6 weeks(10.20±5.30&10.60±3.00 minutes,P =0.647),but with a significant difference between the two surgeries performed at an interval of 2 weeks(9.85±3.79&12.21±2.8minutes,P <0.001).3.The affecting factors of painWe used the results of the 466 pain score questionnaires to find correlations with demographic and medical characteristics.Univariate analysis showed that gender,age,and education level were significantly related to the pain score.All the significant factors were then included in a multiple linear regression model.It is indicated that gender(female),age(young),and education level(higher)were independent factors for a higher pain score.ConclusionsFemale patients,patients with a younger age and patients with higher education level are likely to report more pain.Patients who require bilateral cataract surgery should not undergo the second surgery at an interval of two weeks. |
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