Nafis ur Rahman.
Diabetes-related Blindness: A Cause for Concern.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;14(1):39-44.

A retrospective study of 1247 patients attending the diabetic clinic of Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital and Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology was done to study important aspects in diabetic care in Pakistan. The results were as follows: The age group attending the clinic ranged between 28 and 73 years. 17.88% (223) were on insulin therapy, 66.88% (834) were on oral hypoglycemics and, 4.49% (56) were on no treatment. This excludes patients who were diagnosed as diabetics for the first time in the hospital, amounting to 10.74% (134). The duration of diabetes ranged from 6 months to 28 years. The visual acuity on presentation ranged from perception of light to 616 with 25.7%(320) having severe visual handicap with a vision between less than 3160 and 6160. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 56.9% (710). The diabetic control was poor in the majority of cases, 72% (897) as confirmed by the abnormal blood glucose and glycated Hb A1c levels. Patients knowledge of the disease was poor, about 78% (972), with only about 19.7%(246) making routine blood checks. 19% (237) of the patients had had their fundi examined in the past and only 12% (150) of the patients had had laser treatment done elsewhere. 26.8% (334) of the patients had associated high blood pressure. 9.14% (114) had a history of Ischemic heart disease and 0.40% (5) had diabetic nephropathy and were on renal dialysis when seen in the clinic. 14.4%(179) had abnormal lipid profiles. Diabetes mellitus is now considered an important cause of preventable blindness in Pakistan. Preventive steps need to be taken now so as to prevent it from reaching epidemic proportions. The status of diabetic care and ways and means to improve it are discussed.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com