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Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic Retinopathy Defined

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. A healthy retina is necessary for good vision.

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2010 U.S. Age-Specific Prevalence Rates for Diabetic Retinopathy by Age, and Race/Ethnicity

2010 U.S. age-specific prevalence rates for Diabetic Retinopathy by age, gender, and race/ethnicity

Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 0.0216 0.0322 0.0259 0.0194 0.0234
50-64 0.0484 0.0630 0.0973 0.0535 0.0550
65-74 0.0839 0.0758 0.1594 0.0749 0.0884
75+ 0.0738 0.0694 0.1885 0.0954 0.0813
TOTAL 0.0506 0.0544 0.0801 0.0474 0.0539
Female/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 0.0174 0.0278 0.0222 0.0171 0.0194
50-64 0.0561 0.0451 0.0760 0.0413 0.0558
65-74 0.0883 0.0733 0.1117 0.0965 0.0891
75+ 0.0636 0.0475 0.1471 0.0843 0.0682
TOTAL 0.0525 0.0433 0.0644 0.0441 0.0522
Male/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 0.0258 0.0371 0.0295 0.0219 0.0274
50-64 0.0405 0.0840 0.1199 0.0677 0.0542
65-74 0.0791 0.0791 0.2187 0.0492 0.0877
75+ 0.0893 0.1110 0.2520 0.1122 0.1017
TOTAL 0.0484 0.0679 0.0969 0.0513 0.0558


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2010 Prevalence Rates of Diabetic Retinopathy by Race

Chart Projections 2010 (Diabetic Retinopathy)

  All White Black Hispanic Other
Prevalence 0.054 0.051 0.054 0.080 0.047


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2010 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by Age, Race/Ethnicity

2010 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Vision Impairment (in thousands) by age, gender, and race/ethnicity (Diabetic Retinopathy)

Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 617 173 167 62 1,019
50-64 2,086 407 550 193 3,236
65-74 1,422 150 263 86 1,921
75+ 1,126 98 214 72 1,510
TOTAL 5,251 828 1,194 413 7,686

2010 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by Age, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity

2010 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by gender.

Female/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 249 79 70 29 427
50-64 1,230 157 221 80 1,688
65-74 790 83 102 60 1,035
75+ 587 44 101 38 770
TOTAL 2,856 363 494 207 3,920
Male/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 368 94 97 33 592
50-64 856 250 329 113 1,548
65-74 632 67 161 26 886
75+ 539 54 113 34 740
TOTAL 2,395 465 700 206 3,766


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Projections for Diabetic Retinopathy (2010-2030-2050)

Chart Projections 2010 (Diabetic Retinopathy)

Year All White Black Hispanic Other
2010 7,685,237 5,251,907 826,102 1,194,231 412,997
2030 11,350,006 6,384,275 1,191,481 2,939,136 835,113
2050 14,559,464 6,374,626 1,547,724 5,254,328 1,382,786

Chart Projections 2010 (Diabetic Retinopathy)

Total Population 142,648,393 103,846,437 15,190,777 14,901,369 8,709,810


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Changes of Cases between 2000 and 2010

Chart Projections 2010 (Diabetic Retinopathy)

Year Value Short Value
2000 4,063,247 4,063
2010 7,685,237 7,685

2000 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by Age, and Race/Ethnicity

2000 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy Chart

Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 363 95 85 46 589
50-64 1,041 219 227 96 1,583
65-74 854 92 82 40 1,068
75+ 662 66 73 23 824
TOTAL 2,920 472 467 205 4,064

2000 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by Age, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity

2000 U.S. Prevalent Cases of Diabetic Retinopathy (in thousands) by gender.

Female/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 165 52 36 11 264
50-64 474 138 118 38 768
65-74 390 64 44 15 513
75+ 431 46 39 17 533
TOTAL 1,460 300 237 81 2,078
Male/Age White Black Hispanic Other All
40-49 198 43 49 35 325
50-64 567 81 109 58 815
65-74 464 28 38 25 555
75+ 231 20 34 6 291
TOTAL 1,460 172 230 124 1,986


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Department of Health and Human Services NIH, the National Institutes of Health USA.gov