Diabetic retinopathy and visual loss in a Jamaican population

ABSTRACT

Opthalmic assessment was performed on a random sample of 178 black Jamaican diabetics. Retinopathy was present in 69 percent. Severe visual loss (V.A.<5/200oreyes, and maculopathy was the commonest cause. Another 9 percent of eyes were at "high risk" of severe visual loss within 2 years from proliferative disease. Diabetes mellitus of greater than 10 years' duration was a strong risk factor for retinopathy, maculopathy, severe visual loss and "high risk" of severe visual loss (AU)