Retinopathy at diagnosis of diabetes, with special reference to patients under 40 years of age.

Diabetic retinopathy was present in 7.5% of 5,157 newly diagnosed patients seen at the Birmingham General Hospital Diabetic Clinic between 1960 and 1967. Although die condition becomes commoner with increasing age it is found in 1.5% of patients aged 20 to 39 years. The aetiology is discussed, the conclusion being that in young as in elderly diabetics asymptomatic diabetes of long duration is the main factor.