Visual symptomatology in patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy

To assess the level of visual symptomatology in patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

Questionnaires were completed by patients undergoing first photocoagulation treatment for diabetic maculopathy or proliferative retinopathy during a 2-month period throughout the UK, and at 9 months' follow-up.

There were high levels of visual symptomatology prior to the first laser treatment and at follow-up for both patients with maculopathy or with proliferative retinopathy. Only 25.1% of patients with maculopathy and 17.2% of patients with proliferative retinopathy were asymptomatic in terms of reading, seeing the television screen, recognizing faces or with their night vision at baseline. For those with maculopathy 20.1% were aware of colour vision abnormality in the eye to be treated at baseline and 9.5% were aware of new central scotomata since the treatment. Of those with proliferative retinopathy, 13% said that they had given up driving due to poor eyesight and 19% were aware of new peripheral field defects since the treatment.

There are high levels of visual symptomatology for patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in the UK despite that fact that screening should aim to detect retinopathy prior to visual loss occurring. Patients should be aware that there may not be any significant improvement in their vision with laser treatment, and that the main aim of treatment is to reduce the likelihood of further visual deterioration.