SUMMARY
This article examines the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in patients of the "Sistema Único de Saúde" (S. U. S.) in Londrina - Paraná - Brazil, using data and information from a Master Thesis on the subject. 246 patients, being 86 from Hospital Universitário do Norte do Paraná (H. U.), 80 from Centro Regional de Especialidades (C.R.E.) and 80 from Centros de Saúde (C. S.)., all located in Londrina, were analyzed. The total prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 29,7%. It was not found significant difference among the samples of the three institutes of health. However, significant difference was found in the insulin-needed patients (55,3%) as compared with the insulin-dependent (22,8%) and insulin-independent (22,8%) patients examined. Another findings include: (a) patients 30 years old or less showed less diabetic retinopathy; (b) patients with arterial hypertension had a little interference in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy; and (c) duration of diabetes had strong interference in the occurrence of retinopathy. It was also verified that ophthalmic examination is not frequently practiced in the three health institutes. However, such a medical practice is greater in Hospital Universitário do Norte do Paraná.