A STUDY ON EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ON MEDICAL THERAPY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

AIM: 1. To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients on medical treatment. 2. To determine the risk factors contributing to the development of diabetic retinopathy. 3. To study the epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy patients in relation to age, sex, duration of diabetes, type of diabetes and the type of medical treatment BACKGROUND: Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the leading cause for visual morbidity among diabetic patients. Diabetic retinopathy can be broadly classified into non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). MATERIALS AND METHODS:A cross sectional study was conducted on 600 consecutive individuals who presented or was referred to our ophthalmology department from October 2021 to December 2021. All subjects underwent a comprehensive eye examination including brief history taking, slit lamp examination and dilated fundus examination using slit lamp biomicroscopy with 90D lens. RESULTS: 600 diabetic patients were screened and 24 (4%) of them were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Strict control of glycaemic level through medical therapy and periodical eye screening should be advised to all diabetic patients especially in patients more than 40 years of age to reduce the complications of diabetic retinopathy.