Awareness of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients attending eye OPD in a tertiary care hospital in north India

Abstract

Introduction: The most prevalent microvascular side effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the leading cause of avoidable blindness is diabetic retinopathy (DR). Out of people with diabetes, around 34.6% will develop any DR, and 10.2% will develop sight-threatening DR. The treatment of DR is effective for the preservation of sight. Therefore, its early diagnosis becomes important. There is limited data available on the awareness of DR. Therefore, we did this study to assess the awareness of DR in this region. Aim & Objectives: To assess awareness of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients attending Ophthalmology OPD in a tertiary care hospital in North India. Material & Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana. A total of 160 diabetic patients in the age group of 18 -75 years were included in this study. They were asked to fill the questionnaire and their responses were noted. Results: The study assessed diabetic retinopathy (DR) awareness and care among participants. Of the respondents, 46.3% were male and 53.8% were female, with most participants in the age group of 40-69 years. A significant 52% had a family history of diabetes. While 51.2% knew eye check-ups should be every 6 months and 44.4% understood the need for regular screenings regardless of symptoms. The majority (58.1%) believed good diabetes control could prevent DR, and healthcare professionals were the main source of information (75.6%). Regarding treatment, 43.1% believed DR is treatable with good diabetes control (30.6%), laser therapy (36.3%), and surgery (33.1%). Additionally, 55% felt diabetics should consult an ophthalmologist when blood sugar is poorly controlled, while 30% thought regular exams were necessary when blood sugar is controlled.