Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people 18-64 years old—and there are often no obvious signs or symptoms of diabetes-related eye disease. The most important thing people living with diabetes can do to protect their eye health is to schedule a diabetes eye exam. Early education and routine dilated and comprehensive eye exams or retinal photography are essential steps to protecting the vision of people living with diabetes.

Diabetes-related vision loss disproportionately affects adults in certain racial and ethnic populations, including African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino populations. These individuals are more than twice as likely to develop serious complications, often because the disease is detected later. Limited awareness, fewer screenings, and roadblocks to accessing care contribute to delayed treatment, while lower rates of routine eye exams further increase the risk of preventable vision loss. Together, these factors underscore the importance of early detection and targeted outreach.