Evaluation of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
in patients referring to Imam Sadegh Hospital

Jahangir Ayatollahi
Ophthalmologist, Imam Sadegh Hospital, Islamic Republic of IRAN

Purpose
This research was conducted based on different reports about prevalence of DR and influencing factors such as duration, age, sex, hyper tension and hyperlipidemia.

Background
The last fifty years reports about diabetic complications specify a increasing in prevalence rate of DR which is the most serious complications of diabet and is one of the leading cause of blindness in the world. WHO has estimated that there were 171 million people worldwide with diabetes mellitus in 2000 and predicted that 366 million people will have diabetes mellitus by 2030.. DR is the major health problem in all countries. The frequency of diabetes in our province is considerably higher than the rest of the world ( 14% Vs 2.0-11.7%). fortunately new treatment methods could reduce the blindness rate up to 90%.

Method
A descriptional and cross sectional study was performed in a 15 months period on 894 diabetic type II patients who were referred to Maybod Imam Sadegh Diabet Centre.
pupile dilation was created by Cyclopentolate and fondus examination was performed by indirect ophthalomoscope. In some cases for maculae examination ,if it was need, trimirror lens was used.

with regard to clinical findings, the mentioned patients were divided to five groups :

1- without retinopathy
2- Mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
3- Moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy
4- Moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinical significant macular edema (CSME) or severe nonproliferative retinopathy
5- Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Examination results and the risk factors were recorded and statistically analysed by SPSS software.

Results
Among 894 visited patients, 602 patients were female and the rest were male. 15% were suffered from DR and 85% had no any sign of Retinopathy.
This study define age, duration of disease, hypertention, blood suger level and hyper lipidemia were effective risk factors for DR, but sex was not significantly concerned to DR.
In this screening, prevalence rate of DR patients in comparison with other performed studies specify a clear decreasing. Probably this difference was caused by examination time such mentioned patients referred to medical centre in primary stage before progression of disease.
Among of 894 NIDDM patients were examined, 756 patients (85%) had no any signs of retinopathy, 72 patients (8%) had mild NPR, 23 patients (2.6%) with moderate NPDR, 22 patients (2.4%) with moderate NPDR + CSME and 18 patients (2%) had PDR.

Conclusion
It is concluded

• age, duration of disease, hypertension, blood sugar level and hyperlipidemia were effective risk factors for DR.
• Sex was not significantly important factor for DR.
• Early identification of disease could significantly decrease the complications of DR.

It is recommended

• By a good planning, such as periodic eye examinations and adequate treatment, blindness due to diabetic retinopathy can be reduced.
• Patients should be sufficiently aware and motivated to undergo not only an initial eye examination but also regular follow-up examinations.
• Good control of metabolic status will reduce the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy and delay the onset of retinopathy in patients who do not have retinal changes at the time of presentation.

Key words: Diabetic Retinopathy, Diabetes