Akanth KR¹, Padmaraj G²*, Suhas S³, Nagesha CK⁴ and Ayesha Firdose I⁵

¹Senior Resident, Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, T Begur, Nelamangal, Karnataka, India
²Ganodaya College and Institute of Nursing, T. Narasipura, Karnataka, India
³Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Bharathi College Post Graduate and Research Centre (Autonomous), Bharathinagara, Karnataka, India
⁴Consultant, Department of Vitreo-Retina, Narayana Nethralaya, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
⁵Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding Author: Padmaraj G, Ganodaya College and Institute of Nursing, T. Narasipura, Karnataka, India.

Received: June 23, 2025; Published: July 30, 2025

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of preventable vision loss among adults with diabetes. In regions where access to routine eye care is limited, integrating DR screening into existing cataract camps offers an effective and cost‑efficient approach for early detection. In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 2,265 individuals attending 53 cataract camps in semi-urban and rural areas around Bangalore, India, were screened; 390 (17.2%) were identified as diabetic. All diabetic patients underwent dilated fundus evaluation using indirect ophthalmoscopy with a 20-diopter lens, and diabetic retinopathy was graded according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) criteria. Sixty‑six diabetic patients (16.9%) were diagnosed with DR, and nearly 92% exhibited significant cataract. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender and diabetes duration of 5-10 years were significant risk factors. This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of incorporating diabetic retinopathy screening into cataract camps in resource-limited settings. The approach enabled early identification of individuals with DR among high-risk individuals, with male gender and intermediate diabetes duration emerging as key risk factors. These findings support integrated screening as a practical strategy to enhance early detection and reduce preventable vision loss in vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Cataract Camp; Diabetic Retinopathy; Eye Care; Ophthalmoscopy

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Citation

Citation: Padmaraj G., et al. “Integrating Diabetic Retinopathy Screening into Cataract Camps: A Cross-Sectional Study from Semi-urban and Rural India".Acta Scientific Ophthalmology 8.8 (2025): 02-09.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Padmaraj G., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.