To investigate the knowledge and awareness level of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetes patients.

A total of 437 participants with diabetes were recruited in the Seoul Metro-City Diabetes Prevention Program (SMC-DPP). Participants underwent clinical and laboratory examinations and questionnaire survey to evaluate diabetes complications. The DR was diagnosed by grading fundus photographs 5 standard fields taken per eye.

The overall prevalence of any DR was 20.4% and only 6.6% of patients were aware of their DR. The DR patients who underwent an eye examination within the previous year were 42.3%, and 50.3% out of 437 patients enrolled were educated on diabetes. Of the survey participants, 83.8% answered positive to 'Evaluation of diabetes mellitus complication must be performed every year', 61.1% answered positive to 'Must control blood pressure and lipid level for diabetes management' and 28.4% believed 'It takes a long time for complications of diabetes to develop'. The DR self awareness was 14.6% and an eye examination within the previous year was 50.6% among the 89 DR participants.

Results of the survey with SMC-DPP type 2 diabetes participants showed a low knowledge and awareness level of chronic complications such as DR.