Systematic screening for diabetic retinopathy with  a digital fundus camera following pupillary dilatation  in a university diabetes department.
OBJECTIVE
Screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) is highly inadequate in France because of insufficient infrastructure and increasing disease prevalence. We describe the results of the first systematic DR screening programme established in a university diabetes department.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study conducted over 1 year, consecutive adult patients underwent three-field retinal photography with the Topcon TRC NW6S digital fundus camera following pupillary dilatation with Tropicamide 1%. A questionnaire provided information on patients' systemic and ocular history. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured at the screening visit. Two ophthalmologists graded the retinal photographs in a masked fashion.


RESULTS
Of 1157 patients attending the diabetes department, 1153 (99.7%)underwent photographic screening. Images were gradable in 96% patients. Diabetic retinopathy was detected in 522 (45%) patients and sight-threatening DR in 167 (14%). Of 704 (61%) patients previously believed to have no DR,254 (34%) screened positive. The presence of DR was associated with age,insulin use and non-Caucasian ethnicity in Type 2 patients, and with duration of diabetes and HbA1c in Type 1 and Type 2 patients. Associated ocular pathologies were diagnosed in 612 (53%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our photographic screening programme using pharmacological mydriasis provided a high screening coverage feasible in a hospital setting. We obtained information regarding prevalence and associated risk factors of DR inpatients attending a tertiary care centre. Screening was well accepted by patients and met with no protest from city ophthalmologists. It generated considerable interest among endocrinologists and feedback of results is expected to improve optimization of glycaemic control.
Deb-Joardar
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bellevue, Saint-Etienne, France.
Germain
N
N
Thuret
G
G
Garcin
A -F
A-
Manoli
P
P
Defreyn
A
A
Gain
P
P
Estour
B
B
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004106:Dilatation; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010781:Photography; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods*