Reasons for the Late Presentation of Diabetic Retinopathy in Saudi Arabia: A Survey of Patients Who Presented with Advanced Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy to a Tertiary Eye Hospital

PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand the barriers that contribute to diagnostic and therapeutic delays in patients with advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study targeted patients with advanced PDR who never received any ocular intervention at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital in Saudi Arabia. An Arabic-language questionnaire was used to interview the participants over a period of 6 months. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic questions followed by several sections to assess the causes of delay in diagnosis and management. Variables were analyzed descriptively and reported as numbers and percentages using SPSS 22. RESULTS: A total of 338 patients were included in the study. Most patients were older than 50 years (60.4%), and decreased vision was the main complaint at presentation (81%). Vitreous hemorrhage was the most common diagnosis (46%). Patients’ lack of knowledge about the importance of DR screening programs and problems with healthcare system screenings were the most frequent causes of delay in diabetic retinopathy (DR) diagnosis and management. CONCLUSION: DR is still a major cause of permanent blindness that is treatable with regular follow-up and timely management. Even though DR screening and treatment in Saudi Arabia have improved drastically over the last years, socioeconomic and health system factors remain barriers to the improvement of outcomes of DR.