US diabetic-related sight loss remains prevalent

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR) rates are expected to remain high in the US due to increasing diabetes among youth and adults. 

A study published in Jama Ophthalmology estimated that 26.4% of US people with diabetes (9.6m) have DR and 5% had VTDR (1.84m) in 2021, which has grown since 2004. It aimed to inform the allocation of public health resources and interventions to communities and populations at highest risk. 

Data was collected using nationally representative records and local population-based studies.