OBJECTIVES: To review the available vision-related QoL instruments that could be used to investigate the consequences of refractive cataract surgery, in particular the benefit of spectacle independence. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken on PubMed and Embase databases using keywords “Refractive Surgical Procedures”, “Refractive Errors”, “Refractive”, “Questionnaire”, and “QoL”. Questionnaires were selected if they were developed for cataract or refractive surgery, based on the reading of the manuscript abstract. A further search was performed on PubMed, Embase and ProQolid databases to obtain information on development and psychometric validation of the questionnaires. Authors were contacted by email if missing data were identified from the published literature. Main characteristics of the questionnaires were described including number of items, targeted population, mode of administration, response scale, languages, and number of publications. Development methodology was reviewed (literature review, clinician input, patient input and comprehension test). Psychometric properties were examined (e.g. domain description, scoring algorithm, internal consistency, clinical validity, reproducibility, responsiveness). The above characteristics were then examined in light of the US FDA’s “Guidance for Industry Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: Use in Medical Product Development to Support Labeling Claims”. RESULTS: A total of 141 abstracts were reviewed and 14 questionnaires were identified. Four instruments had both a solid development methodology and good psychometric properties: the CatQuest (Cataract Questionnaire), the NEI-RQL-42 (US National Eye Institute Refractive Error QoL instrument-42), the NEI-VFQ-25 (US National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25) and the RSVP (Refractive Status and Vision Profile). When including the ability to assess vision-related QoL with the benefit of not wearing glasses, it appeared that the NEI-RQL-42 was one of the best candidates, although the benefits of spectacle independence could be more deeply explored. CONCLUSIONS: According to this literature review, the NEI-RQL-42 could be considered as one of the best instruments to capture refractive vision-related QoL consequences after cataract surgery.