A major cause of vision loss in Americans is diabetic retinopathy. It is the leading cause of new cases blindness in adults from 20-74 years of age. During the first two decades of disease, almost all patients with Type I diabetes have retinopathy, and greater than 60% of patients with Type II diabetes have retinopathy.
The goal of treatment is to maintain current levels of vision, but in some cases may improve vision. Early in the disease, patients may be symptom-free which underscores the importance of annual exams.