Diabetic retinopathy and visual disability.

Data from blind and partial sight registers and from special surveys have been analysed to derive estimates of the number of adults in England and Wales visually disabled by diabetic retinopathy. If visual disability is defined as 'less than 6/18 Snellen', approximately 30 per 100.000 adults living at home are disabled by diabetic retinopathy; if defined around traditional concepts of 'blindness' (approximately 3/60 vision or less) the estimated figure is about 20 per 100.000 total population. Annual additions to the blind register for diabetic retinopathy are about two per 100.000 total population. Weaknesses in data gathering are discussed.