The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on the retina

Aim: A retrospective study was undertaken at Damascus Hospital to investigate retinopathy and associated disorders in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). Methods Between June and August 2022, Damascus Hospital patients with T2DM were found. In the archive department, patients' files were referred to, as were the results of eye examinations and digital fundus imaging, as well as the lab values requested for them when they visited the hospital. An ophthalmologist identified and classified the existence and severity of DR. Results The study included 77 diabetic patients, 33 of whom were males (45%) and 40 of whom were females (55%). The patients' median age was 56.15 years, and the average duration of diabetes was 16.41 years. We discovered non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 47 of the sample patients (64%), while proliferative diabetic retinopathy was detected in only 24 (33%). The proportion of diabetic retinopathy patients who did not have regulated glucose readings was 43% (p value 0.0346). The percentage of females who had no proliferative diabetic retinopathy was 75%, whereas males were 52%, resulting in a p value of 0.0370. We did not find any meaningful relationships between the presence of diabetic retinopathy and high total cholesterol values. Conclusion Type II diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for retinopathy, and female patients are more affected. Therefore, it is critical to keep blood glucose levels normal or close to normal, with periodic assessment by expert doctors to determine the extent of this condition's development.