The Effect of Diabetes Mellitus on Retinal Function

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in adults less than 70 years of age in the western world (Kempen, et al., 2004). It is estimated that 1 in 29 Americans 40 years and older has diabetic retinopathy (4.1 million persons) and 1 in 132 persons has visionthreatening DR (Kempen et al., 2004). Diabetic retinopathy is characterized by microvascular changes. Despite the fact that DR is a common complication of diabetes, many cases are detected only at a late phase where visual acuity is impaired and some irreversible retinal damage has occurred (Aiello, 2003).