Background: Diabetes mellitus has a high prevalence in our country. It is usually complicated with diabetic retinopathy. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in patients referring to Kashan Diabetic Center in 2002-2003.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, a thorough ocular examination was performed on 200 randomly selected patients from Kashan Diabetic Center. Stage of retinopathy was determined in patients. The risk factors such as age, sex, duration of disease and type of diabetes were considered.

Results: Diabetic retinopathy was found in 72 patients (36%). Sixty-two patients (31% of examined patients) were in non-proliferative phase. There was a significant association between diabetic retinopathy and duration of disease (P=0.00006), creatinin level (P=0.002), blood urea (P=0.002), fasting glucose (P=0.05) and sex (P=0.044). Other risk factors such as blood cholesterol and triglyceride level, hypertension, type of diabetes, and ischemic heart disease did not show a significant association with diabetic retinopathy.

Conclusion: With respect to the high prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, controlling the blood sugar, urea, creatinin, blood pressure, and fat level can influence the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy.