Diabetic retinopathy is emerging as one of the important causes of blindness in both developing and developed countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that, the number of adults with diabetes in the world would increase alarmingly: from 135million in 1995 to 300 million in 2025.

In India, this increase is expected to be the greatest; nearly 195% from 18 million in 1995 to 54 million in 2025.

Studies done by the ICMR in the early 1970’s had shown the prevalence of diabetes in India to be 2.5% in the urban population and 1.5% in the rural population. However recent reports have shown the prevalence to be in the range of 12 to 14% in the urban population. Of these patients with diabetes, over 20% are expected to be suffering from diabetic retinopathy. The prevalence of diabetes in the rural population is expected to be about 5%.

It is established that screening for diabetic retinopathy saves vision at a relatively low cost, and this cost is many times less than the disability payments provided to people who go blind in the absence of a screening program. Early detection of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and treatment with laser therapy can prevent visual impairment and most patients can be saved from major visual loss.
To meet this challenging health-economic burden of society, Sankara Nethralaya has embarked a major screening, epidemiologic, and research project (SNDRP).

The Aim of project

1. Awareness
2. Screening
3. Training

PROJECT AREA

We would be screening the population living in the rural districts of Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Tiruvallur and Villupuram (shown in the map).

Awareness Meeting

PART – I (June 29, 2003 to August 7, 2004 )
Completed Districts: Kancheepuram,Vellore ; Districts in progress:Thiruvannamalai, Chennai

PART – II (Aug 7, 2004 to Dec 31, 2004 )

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Camps	Total
Total No. of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Camps
No. of Diabetic Patients underwent Dilated Eye exam	5,152
No. of Diabetic Retinopathy patients	878/5,152
Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy	17.04%

Treatment

• Laser : 777sittings
• Surgery : 5 patients

Screening ----- Telescreening

KMC Camps

Target : Monthly 600
Till date : From Aug 2003

Total Camps : 46
Total Patients : 5656
Total DR patients :1109 (19.61%)
Total Patients Treated :366

Kanchipuram

Total Camps :13
Total Patients :2487
Total DR :428 (17.2%)
Total Patients Treated: 119

Vellore

Total Camps : 11
Total Patients : 2676
Total DR Patients : 443 (16.5%)
Total Treated Patients : 194

Thiruvannamalai

Total Camps :9
Total Patients : 2277
Total DR Patients : 416(18.2%)
Total Patients Treated : 98

 
Chennai

Total Camps : 49
Total Patients :5894
Total DR Patients :1133 (19.2%)
Total Patients Treated :441

Awareness

DISTRIBUTION OF AWARENESS MATERIAL

Pamphlets
Door-to-Door enumeration
Auto announcement & Awareness campaign

MEETINGS

No. of Awareness meetings conducted - 160
No. of participants - 75,820
Tele KAP : 1250
Awareness KAP : 1310

Other Awareness methods

8 meetings/month ( 4 urban and 4 rural)
1 TV programme alternate month
Banners at Egmore station and St. Thomas mount
Scrolling message for Post office
Pocket calendars
Awareness rally in target districts : 2 till now

Training Programme

29th April 2004 at Chengalpet Medical College,Chengalpet – 43GP/
Physicians participated

• 24th October 2004 at Navasuja – 16 GP/ Physicians participated
• Training booklet was designed specific for ophthalmologist.
• September 2004 for nursing students at Madras Medical College,
  Chennai
• August 2004 for BSOA students of Sankara Nethralaya
• 6th December 2004 at Cheyyar – 38 GP/Physicians participated

Research Project

To estimate the Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy In India