News

People with an African heritage and type 1 diabetes have a high risk of losing vision in at least one eye, according to findings of an American new study, Reuter's reports.

Lead author ophthalmologist Dr Monique S Roy, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark told Reuters that while previous studies have examined the rate of visual impairments among Caucasians with type 1 diabetes, to her knowledge there have been no similar studies conducted for a large group of African Americans.As part of the study, researchers followed around 500 African Americans with type 1 diabetes over a period of six years to determine the rate of visual loss and associated risk factors.

Researchers found that 4.3 per cent of study patients developed visual loss in their better eye, defined as a visual acuity of 6/12 or worse, and 0.6 per cent became blind in their better eye, which was considered to be a visual acuity of 6/60 or worse.

In addition to poor control over blood sugar levels, the researchers found that older age, high protein levels in the urine (a symptom of kidney disease), and diabetic retinopathy were all independent and significant predictors of vision loss over six years.

Roy notes that monitoring the severity of retinopathy in this patient population is crucial in identifying those who may require treatments to prevent severe vision loss. 'Patients with kidney disease are also at a higher risk of losing vision than those who do not have kidney involvement,' she said.

Roy went on to suggest that increased monitoring of retinopathy may help to prevent the severity of vision loss in this group.

Providing exclusive eye care news, information and educational needs every week, including a FREE CET programme. Subscribe to Optician Print Edition.