Who is affected by diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of new cases of vision loss in adults between ages 20 and 74.1 The prevalence of the disease varies between those with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes.
Among people who have type 1 diabetes:
- After 5 years, about 25% have retinopathy.1
- After 10 years, 60% have retinopathy.1
- After 15 years, 98% have retinopathy, and of those, 26% have the proliferative form of the disease.2
- After 20 years, almost all have retinopathy.1 More than half (53%) have the proliferative form.2
Among people who have type 2 diabetes:
- At diagnosis, about 21% have retinopathy.1 People with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have had the disease for several years before they are actually diagnosed. As a result, the time between diagnosis of diabetes and initial development of retinopathy may be shorter in people with type 2 diabetes.
- After 15 years, about 85% of those taking insulin and 60% of those not taking insulin have retinopathy. About 20% of those taking insulin and 4% of those not taking insulin have the proliferative form.2
- After 20 years, more than 60% have retinopathy.1 About 20% of people with type 2 diabetes who take insulin injections and 5% of those who do not take insulin have the proliferative form by this time.2
| Author: | Monica Rhodes | Last Updated: May 31, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Steven T. Charles, MD - Ophthalmology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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