How Do We Best Care for the Eyes of People With Diabetes?

Abstract

Q. How common is diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes, and when does it occur? A. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among persons aged 20 to 74 years in developed countries.1,2 The prevalence is greatest among Hispanic adults overall, between 8% and 19% among those aged 75 years or older.3 Retinopathy is present in 5.4% of Black individuals and 5.1% among White individuals with diabetes.3 There is no significant difference between men and women with diabetes. The total number of persons with diabetic retinopathy is projected to double between 2010 and 2050 from 7.7 million to 14.6 million.3 A pooled worldwide meta-analysis of data from 1980 to 2008 indicated a prevalence of 35.4% of all persons with diabetes, with 7.5% having proliferative retinopathy.2