Diabetic retinopathy in a rural diabetic population. Prevalence and risk

As part of the West Virginia Diabetes Eye Care Project of 1986, 178 patients in a rural diabetic population were screened for diabetic retinopathy using psychophysical testing and stereo fundus photography. The effects of sex, age, mode of therapy, and duration of diabetes mellitus on the prevalence of retinopathy were investigated. The prevalence of retinopathy was 34 per cent among insulin-treated patients, 18 per cent for those receiving oral hypoglycemics, and seven per cent for the diet-controlled group. Diabetic retinopathy was most prevalent among insulin-dependent patients with prolonged duration of disease. Age did not affect the prevalence of retinopathy after adjustment for sex and duration of diabetes.