Patients’ Perceptions of Trichiasis Surgery: Results from the Partnership for Rapid Elimination of Trachoma (PRET) Surgery Clinical Trial

AbstractPurpose: While quality of life surveys have been conducted in trachomatous trichiasis (TT) surgery populations, little is known about patients’ perceptions of the surgical experience and outcomes.Methods: We interviewed a subset of Partnership for the Rapid Elimination of Trachoma (PRET) surgery trial participants 24 months after surgery. Questions focused on current ocular symptoms, perceived daily functioning, physical appearance, and overall perception of surgery. We stratified participants based on surgical outcomes: normal upper eyelid, postoperative TT, or eyelid contour abnormality (ECA) in one or both eyelids. We compared responses between sexes and surgical outcome groups using contingency tables and Fisher’s exact tests.Results: A total of 483 individuals participated and 86% were very satisfied with surgery results; 96% reported ocular symptom improvement. Participants with moderate to severe ECA or postoperative TT were more likely to report current ocular problems than those with norm...