Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (Sep 2015)
Frequency of Diabetic Retinopathy in Karachi, Pakistan: A Hospital Based Study
Abstract
Objective: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetes patientspresenting to the National Institute of Diabetes and Eye out patient department of Dow University Hospital(Ohja campus), Dow University of Health Sciences. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study in which known diabetics were recruited betweenthe period of 1st July 2011 till 31st July 2012.They were then referred to the Ophthalmology unit for eyeexamination. Subjective refraction was done with Snellens chart, anterior segment examination and fundusexamined was done using a TopCon PS-61E Slit lamp BioMicroscope. All patients were dilated with eyedrop tropicamide 1% instilled every ten minutes for thirty minutes and the fundus was examined with Volk90D lens. Classification of diabetic retinopathy was done using the International clinical diabetic retinopathydisease severity scale study. The data was analyzed using Statistical package for social Science (SPSS version20) and a p value of < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: There were a total number of 570 patients included in this study. Amongst them 325 were males and245 were females. Out of these patients those that who were found to have diabetic retinopathy were 315(55.3%).The age range was between 25 and 75 years and the mean age was 52.30 ± 9.333.Patients that werefound to have mild non proliferative diabetic retinopathy were 231(40.5% ) while 33 (5.8%) had moderatenon-proliferative diabetic retinopathy,11(1.9%) had severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 40 (7.0)%had proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic Maculopathy was seen in a total number of 72(12.6%) ofpatients. Conclusions: Diabetic retinopathy is highly prevalent in Karachi, Pakistan thus it is vital to detect as wellas manage the disease early so as to prevent the onset of blindness in relation to it.
