Social factors associated with diabetic retinopathy visit adherence

Diabetic retinopathy is in the leading causes of blindness among American adults,¹ with prevalence rates projected to grow in the coming years.² Although significant advances in the treatment of diabetes in general and diabetic retinopathy specifically have made the disease more manageable, these benefits are only realized if patients have access to care. Indeed, regular eye care clinic follow-up is essential to disease monitoring and timely intervention.³ For these reasons, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Diabetes Association recommend annual eye examinations beginning 5 years after diagnosis for those with type 1 diabetes and immediately after diagnosis for those with type 2 diabetes.^3,4 For those with more advanced disease, follow-up intervals may be even more frequent, especially for those requiring intravitreal injections or other treatments.⁴