A diabetic retinopathy screening program as a strategy for blindness prevention

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of preventable blindness in adults.
• Early stages of DR are asymptomatic, necessitating regular screening for timely intervention.
• High diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in Mexico strains primary care resources for DR screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of DR in a Mexican diabetic population using a mobile screening unit.
• To evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with DR in this cohort.
• To report on the feasibility and effectiveness of a mobile DR screening program in a resource-limited setting.

Main Methods:

• A mobile unit with fundus photography capabilities was deployed outside a primary care clinic.
• Non-stereoscopic fundus photos of two retinal fields were taken from diabetic participants.
• International standards were used for DR classification; data were analyzed for prevalence and associations.

Main Results:

• The study invited 231 participants (95.3% response rate) with a mean age of 62.4-63.5 years and diabetes duration of 11.0-12.3 years.
• DR was detected in 38% of participants, with only 5.6% having received prior treatment.
• Undiagnosed DR was prevalent (84.5%), significantly associated with diabetes duration and hyperglycemia in men.

Conclusions:

• DR is highly prevalent in this Mexican diabetic population.
• A mobile fundus photography screening program can efficiently detect undiagnosed DR in a standardized manner.
• The findings underscore the critical need for accessible DR screening programs to prevent vision loss in diabetic patients.