PROJECT 3: Diabetic Retinopathy and its risk factors in a Rural district in Bangladesh
Aims: To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the barriers for screening for DR in the rural areas of Bangladesh.
Methods: In a prospective population-based study of 3104 adults ≥30 years to study diabetes we identified 220 participants
with diabetes of whom 60% were previously undiagnosed. Retinal photographs were obtained from those with diabetes and
who were older than 40 years using a non-mydriatic fundus camera and a two-field imaging protocol. The photos were graded
by two trained graders and a retinal specialist. To date, retinal photos from 62 participants have been obtained and the study
is ongoing. Barriers encountered in successfully implementing screening were recorded by study personnel.