High Prevalence of Cataracts Related to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Zahedan, a Tropical Region in Southeastern Iran

Abstract

Background: The incidence of type 1 diabetes is rising globally, leading to increasing concern about the emergence of chronic complications that affect individuals’ ability and quality of life. Objectives: Given the relevance of environmental factors in the development of diabetic ocular complications, the present study sought to assess the ocular complications linked with type 1 diabetes in Zahedan, a tropical region in southeastern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on type 1 diabetic patients referred to Alzahra Eye Hospital. All patients underwent a dilated binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy and slit-lamp biomicroscopy for any signs of ocular complication. The parameters under study comprised gender, age, HbA1c level, and the onset and duration of diabetes. Comparison of measured variables in the two groups with and without ocular complications and determination of the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for age, HbA1c level, the onset and duration of diabetes were analyzed using an independent t-test and binary logistic regression, respectively. Results: Seventy-six patients aged 11.93 ± 3.76 years were studied. Nineteen patients (25%) developed ocular complications, with cataract being the most common (21.1%), and 3.9% (3 patients) had mild diabetic retinopathy. There was no significant difference in visual acuity (VA, P = 0.053) and HbA1c levels (P = 0.22) among these complications and patients without complications. Disease duration (P = 0.04) and age (P = 0.01) were significantly different between those with and without ocular complications. Conclusions: Cataracts constituted the most prevalent ocular complication of type 1 diabetes in Zahedan, with a significant correlation to the length of the disease and patient age. Therefore, it is necessary to plan for annual eye screening for early diagnosis of this ocular complication in the healthcare system.