[Effect of combined diabetic retinopathy and cataract on instrumental functional activity of patients.]

A potential factor that significantly reduces the social activity of older people is visual impairment due to age-associated eye diseases - cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, which dominate in this age cohort. The aim of the study was to study the social activity of elderly patients with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. According to a special questionnaire, 115 people 60-74 years old with combined cataract and diabetic retinopathy and 102 people 60-74 years old without ophthalmological diseases were questioned based on the Tambov branch of the MNTK «Academician S.N.Fedorov Eye Microsurgery». It was found that the average score of social activity in patients with cataract and diabetic retinopathy is statistically significantly lower, amounting to 3,10±0,08 points, versus 5,38±0,09 points in people without ophthalmopathology. The main reasons that reduce social activity in patients with visual impairment are problems with making various purchases and using public or personal transport. Factor analysis confirmed that the contribution of these reasons to the decrease in social activity is the highest and amounts to 0,876 and 0,708, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to increase social assistance to patients with cataracts and diabetic retinopathy in solving the problems of using transport and purchasing various goods.