Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetics of rural population belonging to Ramanagara and Chikkaballapura districts of Karnataka

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among the diabetics of Chikkaballapur and Ramanagara Districts of Karnataka, India. METHODS: A descriptive population based cross sectional study for a period of six months from October 2013 to March 2014 was carried out. All diabetics from five taluks of Chikkaballapur and four taluks of Ramanagara were examined on predetermined date and time at taluk hospitals. Detailed history, detailed ocular examination, height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar were recorded in a proforma with structured questionnaire on awareness of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy(DR). DR was clinically graded according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) classification. RESULTS: 321 patients (642 eyes) were examined with male preponderance and prevalence of DR was found to be 21.2% (68), out of which 85.3% (58) was non proliferative DR, 14.7% (10) was proliferative DR. CONCLUSION: DR is becoming an important cause for visual disability in India. Rural communities have limited access to medical services. Preventive measures have to be taken by creating awareness, screening programmes for detecting early disease. Early intervention and timely management are required to reduce the burden of visual loss due to DR.