The therapy — known as binaural beats — consists of two tones pitched at a specific, slightly different frequency, with each tone delivered to a separate ear via headphones.
The study was conducted in Thailand, with the research presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, jointly conducted with the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
The study involved about 150 patients. Those who listened to a binaural beats-music mix before, during and after their cataract procedure had less anxiety and slower heart rate, compared with the control group patients who do not receive the audio therapy.
“As populations in many parts of the world grow older, it’s increasingly important for ophthalmologists to explore new ways to improve patient care for seniors,” said Pornpattana Vichitvejpaisal, MD, of Chiang Mai University, Thailand, who led the research, in the release. “Our study shows significant emotional and physiological benefits from adding binaural beats to music therapy for cataract surgery patients. This provides a simple, inexpensive way to improve patients’ health outcomes and satisfaction with their care.”
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