An Assessment of Awareness regarding Diabetic Retinopathy among patients with Diabetes mellitus attending a medical college hospital in southern India.

Abstract

Background and Objectives- Diabetic Retinopathy has emerged as a major cause of visual disability leading to irreversible blindness among adults due to progressive damage to the retinal microvasculature. A large percentage of DR-related visual impairment can be avoided with early intervention. Thus, increasing awareness among high-risk individuals, diabetic patients, and their families is essential for advancing early DR screening and diagnosis. To evaluate the level of awareness regarding diabetic retinopathy among patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Methodology: This single-centre, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted from august 2024 to December 2024 in a medical college hospital. A customized questionnaire was created. The questions were read aloud to patients in their primary dialect, and their responses were noted, and then eye examination was done.

Results: Out of the 265 patients screened, 47.1% are aware that diabetes can impact eye health, 44% recognize the necessity for regular eye exams for diabetics, and 29.4% are familiar with dilated eye examinations and 27.1% have heard about diabetic retinopathy, while 24.9% understand that diabetic retinopathy can lead to vision loss. Regarding awareness of the prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, 22.3% know that reduced vision caused by diabetic retinopathy is treatable, and 20% believe that timely intervention can prevent or postpone damage resulting from diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion: There is a critical need to enhance awareness regarding diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the significance of retinal screening within our community to mitigate visual impairment resulting from diabetes.