Oral Anxiolytic

Phacoemulsification is one of the most used surgical methods for cataract surgery today, and the surgeries are under the anesthetic and sedative to make it comfortable and safe for patients. The most important issue is which method is the best for reducing the patient's anxiety, pain, and discomfort during surgery. Previous studies have analyzed the impact of intravenous injection of sedative on the quality of phacoemulsification surgery; however, the impact of oral anti-anxiety drugs (Alprazolam) on cataract surgery has not been intensively studied. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of Alprazolam on satisfaction in cataract surgery. Oral sedation is more convenient and safer than intravenous sedation. Therefore, the investigators will further analyze whether patients using oral anti-anxiety drugs will have an improvement in the pain, anxiety, overall satisfaction, and side effects related to nausea and dizziness in the phacoemulsification surgery. This study will detailed record the patient's status in various aspects using questionnaire scales and scores. Through this research, the investigators will have the opportunity to comprehensively improve the surgical quality of cataract patients in a safe and convenient manner. The investigators plan to collect data from patients who participated in the study "Anxiety and surgery satisfaction for cataract patient with different state anxiety" (Research Ethics Committee Case No.: 202302067MINB) from October 2023 to August 2025, and plan to undergo phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation surgery in their second eye with local anesthetic at the Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital. The sample size of 250 participants was determined based on the type of intervention, expected effect size, outcome variability, desired statistical significance, trial power, and experiences from similar studies. Vulnerable populations and those with any relevant contraindications will be excluded during the enrollment process. All medical records and surgical process data, including privacy-related information, will only be accessible to professional medical personnel for analysis. The focus of this study will be on intraoperative satisfaction, pain scores, relevant discomfort symptoms during the surgery, and postoperative anxiety assessment scales.

This study aims to explore the effects of anxiety traits on pain, anxiety, and anesthesia satisfaction in patients undergoing cataract surgery under topical anesthesia. On the day of recruitment, patients will complete the BAI, STAI-S, and STAI-T anxiety questionnaires to assess baseline anxiety levels. Thirty minutes before the surgery, patients will be randomly assigned, in a double-blind manner, to receive either Xanax or a placebo and will retake the BAI, STAI-S, and STAI-T questionnaires. After the surgery, patients' pain levels and anesthesia satisfaction will be evaluated, with the pain scale and satisfaction survey repeated the following day. The results will analyze the relationship between anxiety traits and pharmacological interventions on the surgical experience, aiming to optimize surgical procedures and improve overall patient comfort.