Virtual Reality and Its Use in Reducing Perioperative Stress in Cataract Surgery

Launched by SOUTH TYNESIDE AND SUNDERLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST · Feb 6, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how virtual reality (VR) headsets can help reduce anxiety for patients undergoing cataract surgery. The goal is to see if using VR can lessen the stress patients feel before their surgery, which may lower the need for sedation—a medication that helps calm patients but can have side effects. Participants will complete a simple questionnaire to measure their anxiety levels before their surgery. They will then be divided into two groups: one will receive standard care, while the other will wear a VR headset for ten minutes to help ease their nerves before answering the questionnaire again.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be scheduled for their first cataract surgery under local anesthesia and have the ability to give informed consent and complete the questionnaire. However, individuals with certain conditions like epilepsy, severe vertigo, or significant hearing impairment will not be included. If you participate, you'll have a chance to share your experience about whether or not you chose to use sedation during your surgery, helping researchers understand the benefits of VR in this setting.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patients listed for cataract surgery under local anaesthetic (topical or regional) with sedation planned.
• • 2. First eye cataract procedures will only be included.
• • 3. Capacity to give informed consent, cognitive and linguistic ability sufficient to understand and fill out questionnaire
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Epilepsy
• • 2. severe vertigo
• • 3. poor visual acuity (below 6/60 best corrected in the best seeing eye)
• • 4. significant hearing impairment
• • 5. recent facial injury/burn.