Background: Cataracts are characterized by a loss of lens transparency or the presence of opacity, leading to a reduction or impairment of vision. Hence; the present study was conducted for assessing depressive symptoms after first eye cataract surgery. Materials & methods:A total of 50 individuals with bilateral cataracts were recruited for a study, all of whom were scheduled to undergo phacoemulsification for their first eye cataract surgery. Data collection occurred in the week preceding the surgery and approximately 12 weeks post-operation. Visual acuity was evaluated, cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Vision-Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) was assessed through the NEI VFQ-25, administered by the researcher. Additionally, depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale.Chi-square test and student t test were used for evaluation of level of significance. Results: A total of 50 patients were evaluated. Mean age of the patients was 47.3 years. Out of 50 patients, 38 patients were males while the remaining were females. Mean visual acuity of the surgery significantly improved after surgery. Also; VRQOL score improved significantly after surgery. However; no significant improvement was seen while comparing mini-Mental state examination score and depressive symptom score before and after surgery. Conclusion:Cataracts impact not only visual acuity but also the ability to perform daily activities, engage in social interactions, overall quality of life, and may contribute to depressive states. First eye cataract surgery in one eye proved advantageous for visual-related quality of life in patients with bilateral cataracts; however, it did not yield a clinically meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms.