Cataract is a condition in which the normally transparent lens of the eye or its capsule
(the transparent membrane surrounding the lens) becomes cloudy or opaque, blocking the
passage of light from the lens to the retina. Cataract disease, which increases with age,
is a major cause of vision loss worldwide, especially in individuals aged 40 and older.
Risk factors for cataracts include age, diabetes, smoking, and prolonged exposure to
sunlight. Except for galactosemic cataracts, surgical intervention is the only effective
treatment for cataracts. Cataract surgeries (phacoemulsification) were initially
performed under general anesthesia or regional block, but today they are primarily
performed using topical anesthesia. Patients who undergo topical anesthesia may
experience fear and anxiety due to the unfamiliarity of the operating room environment
and the fact that they are conscious. The main reasons for these feelings are the fear
that the surgery will be painful, that it will fail, that vision will deteriorate, or
that vision will be completely lost. Patients may also experience fear of moving their
head or eyes during surgery, coughing, or being unable to cooperate with the surgeon.
Studies indicate that patients who undergo surgery with a high level of fear also
experience a higher level of pain after surgery. Pain can increase the difficulty of the
surgery and result in complications by reducing patients' willingness to cooperate during
surgery and their satisfaction with the surgery. Pain management during cataract surgery
not only reduces pain and anxiety but also improves cooperation with the patient during
the procedure. For this reason, it is emphasized that providing pain management during
cataract surgery is particularly important. Today, non-pharmacological methods are used
alongside pharmacological methods to control the pain, stress, and fear experienced by
patients during the intraoperative process. Non-pharmacological methods are effective in
reducing preoperative anxiety, fear of surgery, and anticipated pain. There are many
non-pharmacological methods (stress balls, aromatherapy, music therapy, hand massage,
virtual reality glasses, etc.) used to reduce patients' fears and ensure their comfort
during surgery, and one of the important methods is the use of stress balls. Stress balls
are an effective method for distracting patients because they are accessible and
inexpensive. Stress balls are an effective distraction method for patients due to their
accessibility and low cost. Evidence from previous studies suggests that using stress
balls during medical procedures, such as cataract surgery and endoscopy, may help reduce
patients' pain levels and increase their satisfaction. Knowledge about the effect of
emotional factors such as pain perception and fear on the course of cataract surgery and
their effects on the healing process of the eye is of great importance. When effective
methods are applied to eliminate or reduce the effect of these factors, both the success
of the surgery and the patient's satisfaction and quality of life can be improved.
Therefore, the study was designed to determine the effect of using a stress ball, a
non-pharmacological method, during cataract surgery on patients' pain, fear, and
satisfaction levels. The sample size of the study was calculated using G*Power 3.1.9.7
based on the data from a similar study in the literature14, using a t-test for the
difference between two independent means, with 0.80 power, 95% confidence (1-α), an
effect size of f=0.66, and a one-tailed hypothesis assumption.The minimum sample size was
calculated to be 60. The following will be used to collect data: "Patient Information
Form," "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)," "Visual Comparison Scale for Satisfaction," and
"Surgical Fear Questionnaire". Data will be analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0
software package, and statistical significance will be assessed at the p<0.05 level.
