Refractive Status of diabetic patients at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU)

Author(s): Shams Mohammed Noman, Rajashree Das, Mohammad Afzal Mahfuzullah, Mehjabin Haque, Tajmeh Mehtaj

Background: In Bangladesh, where diabetes affects millions of adults, understanding the refractive status of diabetic patients is vital for improving eye care and preventing avoidable vision loss. Aim: To assess the refractive status of diabetic patients by identifying the prevalence and types of refractive errors and evaluating their association with blood glucose levels. Additionally, it seeks to determine the impact of diabetes on visual acuity and the effectiveness of refractive correction. Methods: This cross-sectional study at BMU's Ophthalmology Department assessed refractive status in 200 adult diabetic patients (simple random sampling). Diabetic status was biochemically confirmed. Refractive errors were measured via objective and subjective techniques, followed by bestcorrected visual acuity. Diabetic control was recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26, employing descriptive statistics, correlation, and linear regression. Results: Among the 200 diabetic patients studied, 53.5% were male and 46.5% female. The most frequent visual complaint, 58.5%, was blurred vision for both near and distance. Notably, 62% of participants exhibited poor glycemic control. Simple myopia was the predominant refractive error in both right 41.5% and left 42.5% eyes, followed by hyperopia 37.5% and 36.5%. A strong positive correlation was found between myopia and nuclear sclerosis r=0.73, with regression analysis indicating that 52% of nuclear sclerosis variability was explained by myopia. Significantly, 14.5% of right eyes and 13.0% of left eyes showed no visual improvement after refractive correction, suggesting co-existing diabetic ocular pathology. Conclusion: The findings of this study will help to identify high burden refractive errors in diabetic patients. Simple myopia and hypermetropia are utmost common and related with diabetic and lens changes. Numerous patients had compacted their visual acuity despite improvement, signifying basic diabetic eye complications. These findings highlight the necessity for regular refractive assessments as portion of diabetic eye care to allow early detection and recover visual outcomes in this helpless group.