Clinical Profile of Ocular Diseases with the Assessment of Knowledge, Awareness and Eye-care Practices in Newly Diagnosed Diabetics in Working Age Group

Abstract

Introduction: Ocular complications in diabetes have a significant impact on the working population. Apart from diabetic retinopathy, diabetes can lead to several non-retinal complications like cataract, ophthalmoplegia, dry eye, corneal kerato-epitheliopathy and refractive error. With the addition of substantial number of newly diagnosed diabetics per year there is a significant ever-growing burden on health services. Materials and methods: It was a hospital-based study conducted at Hi-tech Medical College and hospital where patient diagnosed as diabetics within one year and in the working age-group 30-65 years were included. After the routine ocular evaluation these subjects were administered a concise questionnaire containing questions testing their awareness about diabetes, its ocular complications and eyecare practices. Results: A total of 727 newly diagnosed diabetics were assessed with mean age 49.64 +/-7.28. The incidence of cataract was 18.7% and DR 9.35% respectively. Although nearly half the study population had some knowledge of diabetes, knowledge about ocular complications was limited. The main source of the information was the prescribing doctor. Conclusion: Determining the clinical profile of ocular complications with an assessment of knowledge and awareness of eye-care practices in the newly diagnosed diabetics can help to formulate the interventional measures to control the ocular morbidity.