AIM: To investigate the current status of diabetic patients with low vision in Tangshan, and to explore the risk factors of low vision.

METHODS: A sampling survey was conducted to select 2 000 diabetic residents in Tangshan area from January to December 2016 to examine the incidence of diabetic low vision in Tangshan area. The diabetic patients with low vision included in the observation group, another 2 times the number of cases of diabetes with normal vision were selected as control group. Logistic regression was used to analyze the related history data of two groups of patients were investigated, to analyze the risk factors to low vision.

RESULTS: Of the 2000 diabetic patients involved in visual acuity examination, there were 189 patients(276 eyes)with poor vision, the incidence rate was 6.90%. Among them, 102 patients(102 eyes)with monocular vision deficit(2.55%), binocular vision was poor in 87 cases(174 eyes,4.35%). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that the age, course of disease and retinopathy of diabetes were the major risk factors of low vision in diabetic patients.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of low vision in diabetic patients in Tangshan area is low. The age, course of disease and retinopathy of diabetes are the main causes of low vision. Therefore, strengthening the retinopathy visual examination, early prevention and treatment, in elderly patients, and patients with long course of disease, can reduce the occurrence and development of low vision in patients with diabetes mellitus.