The researchers designed this study to investigate whether implementing preoperative music intervention in cataract surgery can reduce perioperative anxiety, alleviate postoperative pain, and enhance patient satisfaction with the surgical procedure.

This is a single-center, randomized controlled single-blind trial. Computer-generated randomization will be used to allocate patients into two groups: a control group (without music therapy) and music therapy group A (listening to music preoperatively). Patient anxiety levels, pain intensity, satisfaction with the surgical procedure, and degree of cooperation during surgery will be assessed through preoperative and postoperative questionnaires and salivary cortisol measurements. Blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored both preoperatively and intraoperatively.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meets the diagnostic criteria for cataract
• Age ≤ 90 years
• Scheduled for phacoemulsification with IOL implantation under topical anesthesia at the Ophthalmology Department of Guangzhou First People's Hospital
• Voluntarily participates and provides signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Requires complex and prolonged surgery, such as:

  1. Shallow anterior chamber with risk of glaucoma
  2. Advanced cataracts with hard nuclei
  3. Small pupils

• Has hearing impairment or communication difficulties

• Shows significant anxiety/depression tendencies or has a history of mental illness with prior/current use of sedatives

• Refuses to participate, or has difficulty understanding/answering questionnaires, or has cognitive impairments

• Uses medications that may affect cortisol and cardiovascular reactivity, including:

  1. Oral contraceptives
  2. Thyroid drugs
  3. Steroids
  4. Psychotropic drugs

• Diagnosed with autoimmune diseases (e.g., Sjögren's syndrome) or oral diseases with inflammation/active lesions