Risks and Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Children and Young People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive ophthalmic microvascular complication of diabetes and is one of the commonest complications of Type 1 diabetes (T1D). The prevalence of diabetic eye disease varies within different population and age groups, and many risk factors are associated with the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy in T1D. This review discusses the current prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in children and young people (0-18 years) with T1D and the risk factors associated with the presence of diabetic eye disease in this population.