2Ophthalmologist, MD, Misr University for Science and Technology, Ophthalmology, Giza, Mısır DOI : 10.37845/ret.vit.2020.29.56 Purpose: To study the Sociodemographic factors leading to blindness or visual impairment in diabetic patients living in Upper Egypt.
Setting: The study included 200 patients recruited from screening campaigns in the Fayoum and Beni Suef governorates in Egypt.
Methods: Patients included in the study were legally blind diabetics (visual acuity ≤ 6/60), and patients answered a specially designed questionnaire when recruited in the study.
Results: Patients\' knowledge of the ophthalmic effects and complications was as low as 31%. Laser treatment patients were more aware of diabetic consequences (p≤0.02). However, with the increase in education level, a noticeable increase in patient knowledge regarding diabetic ocular complications also occurred. (p≤0.001), patients obtained their knowledge about diabetic complications from their ophthalmologists (p?0.02), rather than from the media or the Internet
Conclusions: The media and internets should have a greater role in informing diabetics regarding the importance of controlling blood glucose levels and regular follow-ups in reducing ocular diabetic complications. This can be achieved by increasing the patients\' level of knowledge.
Keywords : Vision impairment, Sociodemographic factors, Blindness; diabetes mellitus, Diabetic retinopathy