Non-mydriatic fundus photography as an alternative to indirect ophthalmoscopy for screening of diabetic retinopathy in community settings: a comparative pilot study in rural and tribal India.

Objectives: The impending and increasing prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in India has necessitated a need for affordable and valid community outreach screening programme for DR, especially in rural and far to reach indigenous local communities. The present study is a pilot study aimed to compare non-mydriatic fundus photography with indirect ophthalmoscopy for its utilisation as a feasible and logistically convenient screening modality for DR in an older age, rural, tribal population in Western India.

Design And Setting: This community-based, cross-sectional, prospective population study was a part of a module using Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness and DR methodology in 8340 sampled participants with ≥50 years age.