RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of retinopathy in association with duration of the disease, age at the onset, treatment, haemoglobin [Hb] levels, obesity and glycemic control as measured by means of glycosylated [HbAlc] levels. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study comprising 1340 diabetic patients was carried out. Retinopathy was evaluated by means of direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy and retinal photographs. It was calculated that the prevalence of retinopathy was significantly higher in early diabetics [p<0.006]. The prevalence of severity of retinopathy was higher in patients with HbALC >12% [p<0.01]. It was found out that frequency of retinopathy was twice in those that had the Hb levels <12g/dl as compared to Hb levels >12g/dl. Diabetic retinopathy had a positive association with the duration of the disease. With an age at the diagnosis <30 years, the prevalence of retinopathy was 62% whereas with an age of diagnosis >30% years, the prevalence of retinopathy was 54% in insulin treated and 22% in non-insulin treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis with good glycemic control decreases the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy