Abstract
Purpose :
To conduct a multicenter survey of visually impaired patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and to identify the physical and ocular characteristics that lead to blindness in Japan.
Methods :
Visually impaired patients with DM in Japan were divided into blind and low-vision groups according to the World Health Organization classification. Data on parameters related to DM and ocular complications in the right and left eyes were collected from 19 highly advanced medical facilities and compared between the two groups.
Results :
Among 408 visually impaired persons (blind group: 257, low-vision group: 151), 72.1% were under 70 years of age. The rates of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) (right eye, p = 0.041; left eye, p = 0.0031) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (right eye: p = 0.014, left eye: p = 0.0047) and the rate of proliferative membrane beyond half of the retinal area (right eye: p = 0.0263, left eye: p = 0.037) were significantly higher in the blind group. The direct cause of visual impairment was retinal atrophy, common in both groups. NVG and diabetic macular edema were equally prevalent in the blind and low-vision groups, respectively.
Conclusions :
In Japan, blind patients with DM are characterized by severe conditions such as NVG and progressive PDR upon their initial visit to an advanced care facility. These results highlight the importance of monitoring retinopathy through regular ophthalmological examinations, internal medicine, and appropriate therapeutic intervention.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.