Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is more common in type 1 diabetes than in type 2. In the UK, it is the principal cause of blindness in individuals of working age and places a significant burden on health services. At least 2% of the UK population are currently known to have diabetes, and 10–13% of these have sight-threatening retinopathy. This contribution covers the risk factors, epidemiology, pathogenesis and management of retinopathy in patients with diabetes.