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Visual impairment associated with diabetic retinopathy and macular edema: a hospital-based study
Liliana Pérez-Peralta1,2, David Rivera-De la Parra1,2, Enrique Graue-Hernández3
1Ocular Epidemiology and Visual Health Department, Instituto de Oftalmología Fundación Conde de Valenciana.
Background:
Data on visual impairment (VI) in patients with diabetes are necessary in order to guide economic and human resources for reducing its prevalence.
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy-related VI in patients with type 2 diabetes in a hospital-based setting.
Material And Methods:
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.
Results:
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).
Conclusion:
Thirty percent of participants had some degree of VI. Moderate or worse VI showed a strong association with STDR and referable DME.
