Incidence of blindness due to diabetic eye disease in Fife 1990-9

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Abstract
AIMS In the light of goals for reducing blindness due to diabetes, published in the St Vincent Declaration, 1989, the aim of this study was to find the incidence and prevalence of blindness in the diabetic population of Fife. METHODS All blind registrations for the period 1990–9 were studied. Those with diabetes as the first or main diagnosis were included as new diabetic blind. The prevalence of diabetes was studied in a large sample population and extrapolated to the estimated population of Fife. RESULTS The incidence of blindness due to diabetes was 64 (SD 24, 95% CI 49–79) per 100 000 diabetic population/year. The point prevalence of blindness due to diabetes on 31 December 1999 was 210 per 100 000 diabetic population. CONCLUSION The incidence of blindness due to diabetes, in adiabetic population, is now known. Without this benchmark it is impossible to assess the implementation of the St Vincent Declaration.