Diabetic retinopathy--results of a two year screening programme in two medical units in Singapore

Three hundred patients with Diabetes Mellitus from 2 medical units in Singapore were screened for retinopathy over a 24 month period. Prevalence of retinopathy in this population was 38% with sight-threatening retinopathy in 17%. Risk factors associated with retinopathy included a longer duration of disease, the presence of hypertension, nephropathy and poor glycaemic control. Prevalence of retinopathy was higher in females. Malays and Indians had higher prevalence of retinopathy than Chinese.