Abstract
Purpose :
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in South Texas and study the association of DR severity and DFU.
Methods :
A retrospective review was done on patients visiting a tertiary center in San Antonio that were diagnosed with DFU and underwent ophthalmic and vascular examinations within 5 years; 78 diabetic eyes were included. DR prevalence and severity was assessed in DFU patients.
Results :
Of 78 eyes at the initial visit, there were 39 subjects total; 16 subjects had PDR, 20 had NPDR, 1 was with both PDR and NPDR, and 2 had no diabetic retinopathy. At the final visit, with the follow up period of 42.4 + 19.9 months, 25 subjects had PDR, 11 had NPDR, and 3 were mixed. The average age of the study group was 58.7 years old and was 55% male, 45% female, 82.5% Hispanic, and 12.5% White.
Over the course of the study, 9 subjects (45%) showed the development of PDR; 8 subjects (15 eyes; 40%) developed PDR from NPDR, and 1 subject (1 eye) developed PDR from no prior retinopathy.
Of eyes that started with PDR and DFU, the initial Log MAR was 0.66 + 0.37 and the final Log MAR was 0.52 + 0.31, with a total change of -0.14 + 0.41. Of eyes that started with NPDR and DFU, the initial Log MAR was 0.53 + 0.29 and the final Log MAR was 0.52 +0.36, with a total change of -0.0125 +0.3.
Conclusions :
DFU is related with the development of advanced diabetic retinopathy. A better understanding of the relationship between DR and DFU will help in creating a coordinated approach to managing these debilitating diabetes conditions. Patients with DFU should undergo timely retinal examinations and management to prevent premature blindness from PDR. This will aid in future diabetes care.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.