LOSS OF VISION BEFORE OPHTHALMIC REFERRAL IN BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED DIABETICS IN BRISTOL

Data from all patients registered blind from diabetic retinopathy in A von during a 16 month period were analysed with regard to management b efore hospital referral. The main findings were: 50% of the patients h ad no screening for retinopathy and were known to be diabetic; 25% wer e regularly screened for retinopathy (three quarters by local optician s); 22% were newly diagnosed as diabetic at the time of hospital refer ral. The degree of visual loss at the time of first hospital attendanc e was found to be marked (average 4.4 Snellen lines of acuity) but was not significantly different for different sources of referral. Only o ne eye of one patient had normal acuity at first attendance and 88% ha d lost two or more lines; 72% of registrations were a result of diabet ic maculopathy. Delay from waiting for hospital appointments did not c ontribute significantly to the outcome in the group of patients studie d.