Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy, or complications of the eyes in people with diabetes, when detected early can reduce severe visual loss by 60%.

With the recent increase in the life span of diabetics, the prevalence of retinopathy has also increased. It is now the most common cause of blindness under age 65 and the most common cause of new blindness in the United States. Many risk factors have been associated with the development of retinopathy, but the duration of the diabetes is the most important single risk factor. Patients with diabetes for four years or less have a 15% prevalence of retinopathy, whereas patients with diabetes for 15 or more years have a 90% prevalence of retinopathy.

All diabetes should be referred to an ophthalmologist or optometrist upon diagnosis of diabetes and then for yearly ophthalmic examinations.