Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr.

38 (2004) 69–75

Sleep and sleepiness 1 and 9 months

after cataract surgery
R. Asplund a,b,∗ , B. Ejdervik Lindblad c
a Family Medicine Stockholm, Karolinska Institute, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden
b Research and Development Unit, Jämtland County Council, SE-831 25, Östersund, Sweden
c Department of Ophthalmology, Sundsvall Hospital, S-851 86 Sundsvall, Sweden

Received 21 March 2003; received in revised form 11 August 2003; accepted 15 August 2003

Abstract

This study was undertaken to analyze sleep development in a group of patients during the first
9 months after cataract extraction. Men and women (n = 407) undergoing cataract surgery at the
Department of Ophthalmology, Sundsvall Hospital during two periods in 2000–2002 were asked to
complete a questionnaire on the state and change of sleep and sleepiness 1 and 9 months after the
operation. The response rate was 90.8%. The mean ages of the participating men and women were 74.5
and 75.6 years, respectively. One week after cataract extraction the visual acuity in the treated eye was
0.67 (±0.31) in men and 0.69 (±0.28) in women (NS), and showed an inverse relationship to age in
both men (P < 0.01) and women (P < 0.0001). One month after cataract extraction 28.3% of the men
and 37.5% of the women experienced poor sleep, and after 9 months the figures were 15.8 and 31.4%,
respectively. Frequent awakenings and difficulty in falling asleep after nocturnal awakenings improved
correspondingly. Being well rested in the morning increased and daytime sleepiness decreased. The
results indicate that in elderly persons with cataract sleep is improved 1 month after cataract extraction
and further improvement during the first 9 months may be experienced.
© 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Cataract surgery in elderly; Sleep in elderly; Sleepiness in elderly

1. Introduction

Sleep is negatively affected by many somatic and psychiatric diseases and symptoms, and
sleep complaints may also increase with age (Asplund and Åberg, 1992; Asplund, 2000b).

∗ Corresponding author. Present address: Tallvägen 3, S-833 34 Strömsund, Sweden. Tel.: +46-670-100-07;
fax: +46-63-16-56-26.
E-mail address: r.asplund@telia.com (R. Asplund).

0167-4943/$ – see front matter © 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.archger.2003.08.001