[Epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy in Lebanon].

Aims: To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, evaluate risk factors underlying its development, and assess the epidemiological characteristics of documented diabetes in the Lebanese population.

Patients And Method: The population-based study was conducted in three regions in Lebanon from January 2nd 2000 until June 30th 2000. The study group comprised 112 known diabetic patients who had previously been identified among 4,063 randomly selected individuals. All known diabetic patients underwent an interview, a physical examination, and a thorough retinal examination that included evaluation for the absence or presence of diabetic retinopathy. Retinal examination was performed by an ophthalmologist using direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy through dilated pupils. Several risk factors were then evaluated in order to delineate those related to occurrence of diabetic retinopathy.

Results: The prevalence of known diabetes was 2.95%. Of the 120 known diabetic patients, 112 accepted to be examined. The sex ratio (m:f) was 1.43, the mean patient age was 60.98 years, the mean age at onset of diabetes was 51.75 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 9.19 years. Type 1 diabetes was found in 1.8% of the patients, whereas 98.2% had type 2 diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy was detected in 19 patients (16.96%). Duration of diabetes, frequency of fundoscopic surveillance, and altered vision were found to be significantly related to the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion: In our study, diabetic retinopathy was found in 16.96% of known diabetic patients, a lower rate than in most of other countries. Most of the diabetic patients (84.82%) were aware that diabetes causes ocular disease, yet only a few (17.85%) were under regular fundoscopic surveillance.