Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Effect on Quality of Life: An Original Research

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is associated with the vascular and the neuronal damage of the eye leading to diabetic retinopathy (DR). The circadian rhythms and also the quality of life (QoL) are known to be impacted by the photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which are seen to be affected in the DR. Hence, we aim to find a relation between the DR and its impact on the life quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thousand participants were equally divided into two groups of case and controls (DR). The control group was further divided into three subgroups based on the severity of the disease as proliferative and nonproliferative (mild, moderate, and severe). The impact on the QoL was assessed using the Short Form Health Survey-36. The collected data were analyzed for the various grades of the severity of DR on the quality of the life. RESULTS: There was a notable change between the case and the controls and the QoL deteriorated with the severity of the disease. However, these findings were insignificant statistically. CONCLUSION: DR impacts the QoL of the patients, and the severity of the disease is proportional to the worsening of the disease. Further, research is warranted for the association.