Among the most feared diabetes complications are those affecting the eyes. Indeed, diabetes is the leading cause of partial vision loss and blindness in the working age population in many countries. The good news is that it does not have to be so. Diabetic retinopathy, the most widespread of the diabetes-related eye complications, is preventable through adequate screening, and, if already present, its deterioration can be delayed or forestalled through regular eye examinations. This article looks at current ophthalmologic screening methods for retinopathy and points to ways for the future development of prevention programmes.