Pranav Saluja, Harpal Singh, Varun Kharbanda, Rajesh Shripat Pattebahadur, Sagarika Laad, Parag Ramnani
BACKGROUND Diabetic eye disease can lead to permanent visual impairment or blindness if medical attention is delayed. Awareness and knowledge of diabetes-related eye complications is important for early medical presentation and maximisation of visual prognosis. The aim of the study is to study the level of awareness and knowledge of diabetic eye disease among diabetic patients presenting to eye OPD in central India. MATERIALS AND METHODS A hospital-based study was conducted on 300 diabetic patients presenting to eye OPD. A questionnaire was provided to the patients based on their awareness and knowledge of diabetic eye disease. On the basis of their response, answers were categorised into three groups for awareness (fully, partially and not aware) and for knowledge (good, fair and poor knowledge). RESULTS Out of 300, the mean age of participants was 50.3 ± 12.4 years (range 20-79 years) from which 123 (41%) were males and 177 (59%) were females. 106 (35.3%) were from rural area and 194 (64.7%) were from urban area. 164 (54.7%) were literate and 136 (45.3%) were illiterate. Maximum patients 172 (57.3%) were diabetic since last 5 years with the average duration being 5.9 ± 4.1 years. Out of 300 patients, only 89 (29.7%) were found to be fully aware and only 66 (22.0%) had good knowledge (p<0.001). There was little knowledge of retinopathy risk factors or the need for routine eye examination. Most of the patients 152 (50.7%) were not advised by their physician for screening. CONCLUSION The present study showed that there is poor awareness and knowledge among a larger portion of the sample among the illiterate patients, patients from rural area and those who were recently diagnosed diabetics. There is therefore a need for increasing awareness about diabetes in patients and physicians and providing access to retinopathy screening services to the patients.
