The age-adjusted percentage of people with diabetes reporting visual impairment (VI) dropped substantially between 1997 and 2010, from 23.7% in 1997 to 16.7% in 2010, according to National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the decrease in the proportion of patients with VI, diabetes is still increasing rapidly in incidence, and the absolute number of people with self-reported VI continues to increase and to put pressure on the healthcare system. Furthermore, the decrease in the percentage of people with diabetes who report VI did not affect all subgroups equally. In particular, blacks with diabetes did not show significantly less VI in 2010 than in 1997. To see more details, visit www.medscape.com
