Abstract

Background: Glaucoma is one of the major causes of irreversible blindness in the world, and is most often characterized by elevated intraocular pressure. A major health issue today is diabetes mellitus, stemming from lifestyle changes and obesity. Both diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other ocular diseases are reported to be associated with diabetes mellitus, which increases the risks therein. Recent evidence shows that in addition to the risk of DR, type 2 diabetes mellitus may also predispose patients to glaucoma, especially due to microvascular damage associated with diabetes affecting the optic nerve. The relationship between these two conditions deserves serious consideration for preventative strategies in diabetics.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) residing in Taif City between July 20 and August 10, 2024. Participants were recruited through an online survey that assessed their socio-demographic characteristics, diabetes status, and vision-related health information. The inclusion criteria were adults diagnosed with T2DM who provided informed consent and were residents of Taif. Exclusion criteria included individuals without a T2DM diagnosis. The target sample size was 122 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the collected data, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS to examine the associations between demographic factors, diabetes-related variables, and vision-related outcomes. Results: Initial findings showed that many T2DM patients have little knowledge about glaucoma; a significant portion of these people present for the first time when they already have visual disturbances. It was also seen that almost 39.3% of respondents noted some vision change in their lifetime, which indicates possible risk for undiagnosed glaucoma in that population.
Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it is imperative to pay attention to the control of glaucoma screening awareness among T2DM patients in Taif City. The role of glaucoma screening in diabetes management should be highlighted to avert blindness in this population at-risk.

Key words: Glaucoma, intraocular pressure, optic nerve, diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy.