Abstract

Background: The main causes of severe vision loss and blindness in Europe are age-related retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease (DED), and a host of vascular conditions. Both the prevalence and incidence of severe vision loss are expected to increase in territories where life expectancy is increasing. Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the current prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and the most common risks for its development in the city of Sarajevo, a Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: This retrospective single center study included 205 diabetic patients from the city of Sarajevo who attended the regular ophthalmological examination at the Specialty Eye Hospital Svjetlost, in a branch located in the city center, from August 2021 to August 2022. Patients underwent a complete medical assessment by ophthalmology specialists. The retinal examination included an evaluation of the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Any retinopathy present was graded as mild non-proliferative retinopathy, moderate-severe non-proliferative retinopathy, or proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Results: Retinopathy was present in 40.49 % of patients included in this study; 13.17 % had the mild form of diabetic retinopathy, 7.80 % had the moderate-severe form, and 19.51 % had a proliferative form of diabetic retinopathy. The mean duration of diabetes diagnosis was 11.12 years overall, 11.74 years in men, and 10.22 in women. Macular edema was present in 38.55% of patients with retinopathy, 6.02 % in patients with mild form, 8.43 % in patients with moderate-severe form, and 24.09 % in patients with PDR. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Sarajevo is relatively high, and the most common is a severe form of the disease. Regular diabetic retinopathy screening in primary healthcare services and hospital eye services is highly recommended for the timely prevention of visual impairment and blindness.

Key words: diabetic retinopathy, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, proliferative diabetic retinopathy.