Rodríguez RBN, Rodríguez RV, Chiang RC, Alemañi RE, García FL, Galindo RK

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 1-11
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ABSTRACT

Objective: to determine the situation of visual disability caused by diabetic retinopathy in two health areas of Playa municipality.
Methods: a descriptive, observational and exploratory research study was conducted where eye exam was performed in diabetic patients to evaluate the presence of fundus oculi lesions and their association with other ophthalmological diseases.
Results: it was found that the two health areas showed similar demographic characteristics and diabetic disease features. Non-proliferative forms of the two groups occurred in 8.5 and 4.8 % whereas the proliferative form was seen in 2 % and 2.7 %. Mild maculopathy was more common than the severe one in the two groups of patients. The prevalence of retinopathy and maculopathy was 13.1 and 10.6 %, respectively. The highest percentage of patients in the two study groups had not been examined or their fundus oculi test had been performed over a year ago. There was a high number of patients with evident cataract (31.2 and 26.5 %). The prevalence rates of low vision (10.9 and 11 %) and of blindness (2.9 and 2.7 %) were almost the same in the two groups; however it should be borne in mind that their causes can be reversible, preventable and treatable.
Conclusions: despite the small sample size and the low prevalence of retinopathy and/or maculopathy, there were patients with preventable and treatable vision.