Background: Diabetes retinopathy is a major, chronic, devastating complication of diabetes. Misunderstanding, inadequate knowledge, and poor control of blood sugar level lead to rapid disease progression resulting in worsening visual acuity and permanent visual loss. Military personnel getting diabetes retinopathy would affect the defensive power, reducing the country endurance.

Objective: To study the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in army personnel.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Army personnel with diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were randomly selected from the outpatient unit of the department of medicine, Phramongkutklao hospital. Questionnaire was performed and fundus findings were recorded.

Results: Three hundred eighty-five subjects were enrolled, of which 332 (86.23%) were male. Mean age was 53.18±5.49. Blurred vision was found in 69.48%. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 23.28%. Male and duration for 9.35±5.37 years after being diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are risk factors for development of diabetes retinopathy with OR 5.08 (1.68 to 15.32) and 1.09 (1.03 to 1.15), respectively (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the Army personnel is within range of the worldwide population, which is lower than in the Thai-population.

Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy, Military personnel

Received 10 May 2018 | Revised 15 Jun 2018 | Accepted 29 Jun 2018