To determine the knowledge, beliefs and practices of patients with diabetic retinopathy attending the Retina Eye Clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies. A prospective study was done using a questionnaire with a sample population of 150 patients. The questions included their knowledge about the frequency of their eye examination, the relevance of exercise and a healthy diet, the role of the ophthalmologist and their views on the importance of compliance with medications for diabetes and hypertension. One hundred and fifty patients were recruited. Sixty six percent (99/150) were females and 34 % (51/150) males. The ages ranged from 29 to 83 years (mean ± SD, 56.1 ± 10.3) years. Type II diabetes was more common; 63 and 79 % of females and males respectively. A minority (19.8 %) obtained tertiary education. The mean % knowledge scores were 86 ± 14 for males and 82.8 ± 16.4 for females (p = 0.260). Prior to attending the retina clinic, 50 % were unaware of the need for annual eye examinations. Compliance with medication, exercise and a special diet was seen in 73, 40.3 and 49.7 % respectively. Current knowledge scores were good. However, knowledge about the timing and frequency of eye examinations prior to attending the retina clinic was inadequate. Correct knowledge and beliefs did not correspond to a high level of compliant practices.

A 43-year-old male scuba diver presented with an acute history of painful unilateral visual loss after scuba diving. He had right-sided retrobulbar pain and headache. He was known to have sinusitis and had transient visual loss in two previous episodes after scuba diving. His visual acuity was hand motions and 20/20 in the right and left eye, respectively. There was no proptosis. He had a right relative afferent pupillary defect. Colour vision was normal in the left eye and absent in the right eye. Fundal examination revealed healthy discs and macula bilaterally. He was assessed as a right optic neuropathy, possibly secondary to compression. An MRI of the brain revealed a large sphenoidal mucocele extending into the right optic foramen. He was treated with oral steroids, antibiotics and nasal decongestants. He underwent endoscopic intranasal sphenoidectomy and marsupialisation with return of his visual acuity to 20/25 in that eye.

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