Improvement in Appearance-Related Self-Care Behaviors After Cataract Surgery in Elderly Women: A Prospective Questionnaire Study

Purpose: To investigate changes in appearance-related self-care behaviors after cataract surgery in elderly women using a prospective questionnaire-based approach. Setting: Shonan Oiso Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. Design: Prospective observational study. Methods: This prospective single-center study included 86 female patients aged ≥65 years who underwent bilateral cataract surgery. Appearance-related behaviors were evaluated using a structured questionnaire termed the Appearance-Related Self-Care Behavior Scale (ASBS). An observer-based Grooming Observation Score (GOS) was also recorded by research staff. Multivariable linear regression analyses with robust standard errors were performed to identify factors associated with improvements in appearance-related behaviors. Results: Significant postoperative improvements were observed in several appearance-related parameters. The desire to maintain appearance increased from 4.19 ± 0.76 to 4.42 ± 0.76 (p = 0.007), and social motivation associated with grooming improved from 3.19 ± 1.06 to 3.62 ± 1.10 (p = 0.002). Beauty service visit frequency increased from 0.67 ± 0.83 to 0.93 ± 1.15 times per month (p = 0.004). The observer-assessed GOS increased from 2.23 ± 1.18 to 4.21 ± 1.00 (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that improvement in the desire to maintain appearance was associated with target refractive power (β = −0.424, p = 0.001), while improvements in grooming-related social motivation and beauty service visits were associated with changes in spherical equivalent (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Cataract surgery was associated with significant improvements in appearance-related self-care behaviors in elderly women, suggesting an additional psychosocial benefit of visual restoration.