Open AccessA small number of older type 2 diabetic patients end up visually impaired despite regular photographic screening and laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy
Author(s) -
HanssonLundblad Catharina,
Holm Kristina,
Agardh CarlDavid,
Agardh Elisabet
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1600-0420
pISSN - 1395-3907
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0420.2002.800315.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetic retinopathy , visual impairment , visual acuity , diabetes mellitus , ophthalmology , fundus photography , retinopathy , fundus (uterus) , population , type 2 diabetes , blindness , laser coagulation , optometry , fluorescein angiography , endocrinology , environmental health , psychiatry
. Purpose: The present study describes the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness in a geographically defined population 8 years after the introduction of a screening programme in 1987 for early detection of sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Of 374 patients with diabetes, comprising 2.6% of the population in the study community, 72% were examined with fundus photography or biomicroscopy during 1994–95. These patients form the basis of this study. The screening programme was fulfilled by 93% of subjects, all of whom underwent ophthalmic examinations at least every other year. A total of 79 eyes in 52 patients received photocoagulation for macular oedema alone or in combination with severe non‐proliferative or proliferative retinopathy. Results: Eight years after the implementation of the programme, only three patients, all with type 2 diabetes (diabetes diagnosed at or after 30 years of age), had visual acuity ≤ 0.1. The total number of eyes with visual acuity ≤ 0.5 was higher in insulin‐treated type 2 diabetic patients ( n = 20) than in those on oral treatment ( n = 5) or diet treatment only ( n = 1) (p = 0.006 in both cases). The only independent risk factor for visual impairment in eyes with sight‐threatening retinopathy was age. Conclusion: A small number of older type 2 diabetic patients end up with visual impairment due to unsuccessful photocoagulation of macular oedema.