PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Khandekar, Rajiv
AU  - Mohammed, Ali J.
TI  - Visual disabilities among diabetics in Oman
DP  - 2005 May 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 836--841
VI  - 26
IP  - 5
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/26/5/836.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/26/5/836.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2005 May 01; 26
AB  - OBJECTIVE: The magnitude, determinants of visual impairment, bilateral blindness and low vision among diabetics in Oman were estimated as part of Oman Diabetic Eye Study 2002. This study presents the outcomes and additional risk of visual impairment in diabetics.METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 2,520 randomly selected diabetics was conducted in 2002 in 10 regions of Oman. The sample was represented by 5,564 diabetics referred for eye checks. Ophthalmologists noted the vision and ocular manifestations of diabetes. Physicians reported the systemic manifestations of diabetes. The magnitude of visual disabilities, bilateral blindness, legal blindness and low vision were estimated and compared to the rates in the population.RESULTS: The prevalence of visual impairment in diabetics was 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 27.20-29.57). It was 34.6% (95% CI 32.93 to 36.32) in females and 21.2% (95% CI 19.59 to 36.32) in males. The prevalence increased in age. The prevalence of bilateral blindness (vision <0.05) was 0.7%, legal blindness 9.8% (vision <0.1) and low vision 27.7% (vision <0.5).CONCLUSION: The risk of visual impairment is 25 times more in diabetics than in the Omani population. Therefore, to prevent further increase of visual disabilities, the national health program should prioritize the eye care in diabetics and the predictors of visual disabilities should be further investigated.