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