Visual impairment associated with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema: a hospital-based study.

Abstract

Data on visual impairment (VI) in patients with diabetes are necessary in order to guide economic and human resources for reducing its prevalence. To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy-related VI in patients with type 2 diabetes in a hospital-based setting. Cross-sectional study carried out from 2014 to 2019 in an ophthalmology outpatient clinic. Any VI was defined as corrected pin-hole visual acuity in the better eye of ≥ 0.24 logMAR. The presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic macular edema (DME) and cataract was evaluated. A total of 840 patients were included; median diabetes duration was 15 years. The prevalence of VI was 30%. DR was found in 62% of patients (30% had sight-threatening DR [STDR]), 17% had referable DME, and 3%, cataracts. The odds ratio for moderate or worse VI was 9.02 for STDR (p < 0.001), 5.89 for referable DME (p = 0.001), and 2.51 for cataract (p = 0.006). Thirty percent of participants had some degree of VI. Moderate or worse VI showed a strong association with STDR and referable DME.