Diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients seen at tertiary care centre in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in a tertiary health care centre in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and attempt to establish history based risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a hospital over a year. Detailed ocular examinations for diabetic retinopathy were performed on 600 diabetes mellitus patients. RESULTS: A total of 600 individuals with diabetes were screened. 40% were males, and 60% were females. DR prevalence in the entire data set was 18.67% (p = 0.001). Males (p = 0.011), patients with diabetes with a history of more 5 five years (p = 0.008), people aged 61 to 70 (p = 0.001), and those with poorly controlled diabetes with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values > 5 % (p = 0.001) all had a higher prevalence of DR. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified the prevalence of DR in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, raising awareness among DM patients for the need of regular ocular examination