Ophthalmic examination among adults with diagnosed diabetes mellitus

Objective.-To assess whether adults with diagnosed diabetes in the United States are receiving recommended eye examinations for detection of diabetic retinopathy and what factors are associated with receiving them. Design, Setting, and Participants.-The design was a cross-sectional survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized US population 18 years of age or older, based on the 1989 National Health Interview Survey. A multistage probability sampling strategy was used to identify a representative sample of 84 572 persons. A questionnaire on diabetes was administered to all subjects with diagnosed diabetes (n=2405). Main Outcome Measure.-A dilated eye examination in the past year