Visual functional defects in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a questionnaire based cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health concern with known systemic complications.
• Ocular complications of T2DM can significantly impact patients' quality of life and visual function.
• Understanding the specific impact of T2DM on vision and identifying risk factors is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of T2DM on various visual functions.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors that modify visual function in T2DM patients.
• To elucidate the relationship between these factors, visual symptoms, and overall visual function.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted with 1030 participants (400 T2DM patients, 630 non-patients).
• Demographic data and disease severity were collected; visual function was assessed using the NEI VFQ-25.
• Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and regression models to evaluate data.

Main Results:

• T2DM patients exhibited significantly lower scores in most visual functions compared to non-patients, excluding color vision.
• Age and education level influenced visual function scores, but gender did not.
• Diabetic duration, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and HbA1c levels negatively correlated with visual function scores, with identified cut-off points.

Conclusions:

• T2DM patients experience significant visual impairment and accelerated decline in visual function.
• Risk factors include older age, lower education, longer diabetes duration, poor glycemic control, reduced visual acuity, and diabetic retinopathy.
• Diabetic retinopathy and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) mediate the negative impact of diabetes duration and elevated glucose on visual function.