The overall incidence of diabetic eye disease has declined substantially during the last 15 years, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in the November 18 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Although the actual number of adults with diabetes and visual impairment increased, the age-adjusted percentage of adults with diagnosed diabetes and visual impairment declined significantly, from 23.7% in 1997 to 16.7% in 2010.

Nevertheless, constant vigilance is still necessary for people with diabetes and visual impairment, the authors warn.

The purpose of the study was to better quantify recent trends in diabetes-related vision impairment. The researchers used a simple questionnaire to determine if the participants had ever had a diagnosis of diabetes. It also asked about their level of vision impairment, either with or without the use of spectacles or contact lenses.

The data showed that the actual number of adults who reported a history of diabetes and visual impairment increased from 2.7 million in 1997 to 3.9 million in 2010. But, the percentage of adults with a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes and visual impairment decreased by nearly 8%.

The authors offered several possible explanations for the marked decline in diabetic eye disease:

• Improved control of several primary risk factors, including blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid volumes.
• Enhanced detection and treatment of diabetic eye diseases.
• Many current and/or recently diagnosed diabetes patients may not yet have developed associated visual impairment.

The authors documented no statistically significant increase in the frequency of visits to eye care providers from 1997 to 2010.

“Although this report highlights encouraging trends in the prevalence of self-reported visual impairment among persons with diagnosed diabetes, declines were not observed across all population subgroups, and the reported annual contact with eye care providers remained suboptimal,” wrote lead researcher Nilka R. Burrows, M.P.H., and coauthors.

“Continued surveillance of visual impairment among persons with diagnosed diabetes, risk factors for visual impairment, and the level of care received by patients with diabetes will help public health officials monitor and assess progress toward national objectives for improving vision health,” the authors concluded.