Smita K. Kadu

ABSTRACT Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is emerging fastly as one of the commonest causes of blindness. Globally in developed countries over 2.5 million people are blind due to diabetes. The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy or other micro-vascular complications of diabetes depends on both the duration and severity of hyperglycaemia. Present study is done to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in association with raise in HbA1c and also to correlate the severity of Diabetic retinopathy with the levels of HbA1c. A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 patients with diabetes mellitus attending the institute. All patients were subjected to relevant investigations, detailed slit lamp and dilated retinal examination. Diabetic Retinopathy was graded as per ETDRS categories. Among 200 patients, male: female ratio was 1.17. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 41 to 60 years. Present study shows that 52 had mild NPDR, 15 had moderate to severe NPDR and 13 had PDR. Present study showed as the HbA1c level increases severity of the diabetic retinopathy also increases and that Hba1c is an important and an independent factor responsible for development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Keywords: HbA1c, Diabetic retinopathy.