Purpose: We evaluated the magnitude of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other ocular co-morbidities among patients with diabetes in 2006. We also assessed resources for eye care at Oman's Sumail Hospital.
Methods: We reviewed the DR register in May 2008. Physicians diagnosed diabetes. Ophthalmologists used a biomicroscope to identify ocular co-morbidities. The best-corrected vision of each eye was noted. DR grading, as recommended by the World Health Organization, was adopted. The prevalence of DR was calculated. Grades of DR were correlated to vision. Projections of patients with diabetes mellitus and DR were compared to the study outcomes.
Results: We randomly picked 418 (49%) of the 843 registered persons with diabetes for our study. The prevalence of DR was 7.9% (95% confidence interval 6.6, 9.2). Sight-threatening DR was found in 43 of 689 (5.3%) eyes. Prevalence of DR was 6.3% among persons with diabetes who were screened for the first time; it was 9.3% among those rescreened. Diabetic macular edema was present in 42 (5%) eyes. Patients with DR had a higher risk of blindness (vision less than 6/60) compared to those without DR (odds ratio 5.0; 95% confidence interval 3.74, 6.69). Laser surgery had to be used for 85 (20.3%) DR patients. Early cataract and trachomatous corneal opacities were main co-morbidities.
Conclusions: The coverage of screening for diabetes and DR in our study area was less than the national coverage. Better management facilities for DR could improve patients' eye care at Sumail Hospital. Good vision in persons with diabetes could be a reason for them not accepting regular eye check-ups and laser treatment.