Refractive stability and timing of spectacle prescription following cataract surgery in myopic eyes

Abstract Purpose To investigate the post‐operative refractive stabilisation time and provide evidence for the optimal timing of a spectacle prescription in myopic post‐cataract surgery patients. Methods A total of 116 consecutive myopic cataract patients were recruited from the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center in this prospective study. Post‐operative subjective refraction was assessed after 1 week and 1 month (4–6 weeks), with the interval for the new spectacle acquisition being recorded. Visual Function Index‐14 (VF‐14) questionnaires were used to assess the vision‐related quality of life. Results There was no significant difference in spherical ( p = 0.33), cylindrical ( p = 0.65) or spherical equivalent refractions ( p = 0.45) obtained 1 week and 1 month post‐operatively, indicating that subjects achieved refractive stability within 1 week. In subgroups having differing age and axial lengths, there were also no significant differences between the 1 week and 1 month findings. The spherical equivalent refractive shift between 1 week and 1 month was significantly correlated with the post‐operative prediction error ( R = 0.35; p < 0.001). Only five (4.3%) out of 116 patients obtained new spectacles 1 week post‐surgery. The VF‐14 values improved from 85.77 ± 7.24 to 90.45 ± 5.39 after acquiring new spectacles ( p < 0.01). Conclusions The stabilisation of subjective refraction occurred within 1 week in myopic cataract patients. Shortening the interval before prescribing a new spectacle prescription is recommended for myopic patients following cataract surgery to improve their vision‐related quality of life.