Quiz: Diabetic Retinopathy

Apr 24, 2018

More than 30 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes1, which can put them at risk for a vision-threatening eye condition called diabetic retinopathy. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on diabetic retinopathy and to learn about the prevalence, risk factors and symptoms.

Before taking the quiz, you can refresh your knowledge with our diabetic eye disease infographic here or with our fact sheet here.

1. TRUE OR FALSE: DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS AMONG ADULTS AGED 20-74. 2

False
True
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss in people with diabetes and the leading cause of blindness among adults aged 20 to 74.

2. TRUE OR FALSE: POORLY CONTROLLED DIABETES CAN DAMAGE BLOOD VESSELS IN THE RETINA AND CAN EVENTUALLY LEAD TO VISION LOSS.3

False
True
The longer a person has diabetes, especially if blood sugar is poorly controlled, the higher the risk for developing diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when blood vessels in the retina become damaged. This can cause vision loss or distortion when the abnormal vessels leak blood or fluid into the eye.

3. WHO IS AT RISK FOR DIABETIC RETINOPATHY? 3

People with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes
People with type 1 diabetes
All people with diabetes – both type 1 and type 2 – are at risk for diabetic retinopathy.

4. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN THE U.S.?4,5

15 million
Almost 8 million
2 million
Less than 1 million
Diabetic retinopathy affects nearly 7.7 million Americans and that number is expected to grow to 16 million people by 2050.

5. TRUE OR FALSE: PEOPLE NOTICE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY DEVELOP DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.3

False
True
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may not appear until the condition has progressed, which may lead to vision loss. Diabetic retinopathy is often without noticeable symptoms in its early stages.

6. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY?6

All of the above
Patches of vision loss, such as small black dots or lines
Loss of color contrast
Blurred vision
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy may include blurred vision, loss of color contrast, or patches of vision loss, which may appear as small black dots or lines "floating" across the front of the eye.

7. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA (DME), A COMPLICATION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY THAT CAUSES SWELLING OF THE MACULA, THE CENTRAL PART OF THE RETINA RESPONSIBLE FOR SHARP, CENTRAL VISION, AND CAN LEAD TO VISION LOSS?3,7,8

250,000
More than 1 million
More than 745,000
Almost 450,000
More than 745,000 people in the U.S. have DME. The risk for developing DME is closely associated with the length of time a person has lived with diabetes and the severity of the diabetic retinopathy.

8. PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF ___________ AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY.9

Migraines
Stroke
High blood pressure
Low blood pressure
People with a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are at an increased risk for diabetic retinopathy. Poorly controlled diabetes over time is also a major risk factor.

9. NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS IN A NATIONWIDE SURVEY SAID LOSING THEIR EYESIGHT WOULD HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES THAN LOSING:10

All of the above
The ability to speak
Their hearing
A limb
Their memory
According to a nationwide survey published in JAMA Ophthalmology, nearly 50% of those surveyed said losing their eyesight would have a greater impact on their everyday lives than losing their memory, hearing, a limb or the ability to speak.

10. TRUE OR FALSE: THE KEY TO COMBATTING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IS EARLY DIAGNOSIS.

False
True
It is important for all people with diabetes to visit their ophthalmologist for an annual, comprehensive dilated eye exam to detect the disease early. This is best way to help detect changes in vision, even in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy where symptoms may not be noticeable.


1. American Diabetes Association. Statistics About Diabetes. Available at http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/. Accessed April 2, 2018.

2. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Eye Disorders: Diabetic Retinopathy. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html. Accessed April 2, 2018.

3. National Eye Institute. Facts About Diabetic Eye Disease. Available at: https://nei.nih.gov/health/diabetic/retinopathy. Accessed April 2, 2018.

4. Prevent Blindness America. Diabetic Retinopathy. Available at http://www.visionproblemsus.org/diabetic-retinopathy/diabetic-retinopathy-definition.html. Accessed April 2, 2018.

5. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Projection of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Major Eye Diseases among People with Diabetes Mellitus United States, 2005-2050. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/publications/diabetic_retinopathy.htm. Accessed April 2, 2018.

6. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms. Available at: http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/diabetic-retinopathy/symptoms.cfm. Accessed April 2, 2018.

7. Bressler NM, Varma R, Doan Q, et al. Underuse of the Health Care System by Persons With Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Macular Edema in the United States. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2014 Feb;132(2):168-73.

8. Lighthouse International. Diabetic Retinopathy Overview. Available at: http://li129-107.members.linode.com/about-low-vision-blindness/vision-disorders/diabetic-retinopathy/diabetic-retinopathy-overview/. Accessed April 8, 2018.

9. Popescu T, Pritulescu C, Mota M. Possible Correlation between Diabetic Retinopathy and Atherosclerosis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Current Health Sciences. 2009;35.

10. Adrienne WS, Bressler NM, Folkes S, et al. “Public Attitudes About Eye and Vision Health.” JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(10):1111-1118.

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