Prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in migrant Indians in an urbanized society in Asia: The Singapore Indian eye study

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Indian persons living in a newly urbanized society in Asia. Design: Population-based study. Participants: Ethnic Indians aged <40 years living in Singapore. Methods: The Singapore Indian Eye Study was conducted between 2007 and 2009. All participants underwent an extensive ophthalmic examination, including retinal photographs obtained after pupil dilation. These images were graded for the presence and severity of DR using the modified Airlie House classification system. Diabetes was defined as hemoglobin A1c level of <6.5%, use of diabetic medication, or a physician diagnosis of diabetes. Risk factors we..