Sex and age may play a role in satisfaction with presbyopia correction outcomes. Photo: Tengyart on Unsplash.

A recent study in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery exploring the impact of a patient’s demeanor οn satisfaction rates in pseudophakic presbyopic correction found that this factor plays a significant role in the perceived results following premium surgery, specifically between male and female patients.

This prospective, comparative study evaluated 120 cataract patients (60 men, 60 women). The researchers consulted with each participant, explaining the benefits and the drawbacks of bilateral trifocal correction, which was offered at no extra cost. Patient personality was evaluated by a survey instrument called the Traits Personality Questionnaire 5, which measures an individual’s propensity toward neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness to experience. Data modeling identified the contributions of personality traits in the preoperative decision process and post-op satisfaction.

Of the total participants, 68% (24 men, 57 women) selected premium correction. In men, low neuroticism and high extraversion were the primary personality contributors for this decision. In women, all personality traits contributed to the selection process. Women were more demanding regarding postoperative distance acuity expectations (0.1 vs 0.2 logMAR) when determining their level of satisfaction. For both men and women, openness to experience, conscientiousness and extraversion were primary contributors for optimal satisfaction rates.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the impact of personality on the decision process for selecting premium presbyopic surgery and on the postoperative satisfaction,” the study authors concluded in their paper. “We are confident that our study outcomes will contribute to the body of knowledge and assist cataract surgeons in their pursuit for optimal outcomes in presbyopic corrections.”