THE CONTENTMENT OF CATARACT-PATIENTS

Background Most of the presentations concerning quality assurance foll owing cataract surgery are based upon objective data, as it should be. But the success of an eye-clinic is not limited by such objective dat a, but on the contentment of the patients and the local colleagues, wh o direct the patients. Our aim in the following study is to find out, if there is a correlation between objective data and the contentment o f cataract-patients. Material and Methods 101 non-selected patients we re asked about their contentment following cataract surgery and lens i mplantation. They were asked twice; first immediately after surgery an d second two months after surgery. The subjective data of the patients were compared with objective data. Results 99% of the patients were c ontent with the surgery, but only 88% were content with their visual a cuity. There was no correlation between contentment of the patients an d visual acuity. 13% of the patients reached a vision below 0.2. All b ut one said to have a good or moderate vision. 16% claimed to have poo r or very poor vision, they all had a vision between 0.2 and 1.0. Conc lusions The ophthalmic surgeon must not be satisfied by his own good s urgical results. In addition, he has to take care of the contentment o f his patients. But it is even more dangerous, if the surgeon is proud because of his many content patients. Even if the patients are satisf ied, he has to take care, if he really deserves the thanks of them.