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. 2017 Nov 28;17(1):220.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-017-0620-2.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of undercorrected refractive errors among people with diabetes in Shanghai

Mengjun Zhu  1 , Xiaowei Tong  1 , Rong Zhao  2 , Xiangui He  1 , Huijuan Zhao  3 , Jianfeng Zhu  4
Affiliations

Prevalence and associated risk factors of undercorrected refractive errors among people with diabetes in Shanghai

Mengjun Zhu et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of undercorrected refractive error (URE) among people with diabetes in the Baoshan District of Shanghai, where data for undercorrected refractive error are limited.

Methods: The study was a population-based survey of 649 persons (aged 60 years or older) with diabetes in Baoshan, Shanghai in 2009. One copy of the questionnaire was completed for each subject. Examinations included a standardized refraction and measurement of presenting and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and fundus photography.

Results: The calculated age-standardized prevalence rate of URE was 16.63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.76-19.49). For visual impairment subjects (presenting vision worse than 20/40 in the better eye), the prevalence of URE was up to 61.11%, and 75.93% of subjects could achieve visual acuity improvement by at least one line using appropriate spectacles. Under multiple logistic regression analysis, older age, female gender, non-farmer, increasing degree of myopia, lens opacities status, diabetic retinopathy (DR), body mass index (BMI) index lower than normal, and poor glycaemic control were associated with higher URE levels. Wearing distance eyeglasses was a protective factor for URE.

Conclusion: The undercorrected refractive error in diabetic adults was high in Shanghai. Health education and regular refractive assessment are needed for diabetic adults. Persons with diabetes should be more aware that poor vision is often correctable, especially for those with risk factors.

Keywords: Causes; China; Diabetes; Undercorrected refractive error; Visual impairment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The current investigation followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center. All participants signed written informed consent before participating in the study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence of visual impairment before and after correction with appropriate spectacles
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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