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Aim-The use of eye care services by people with and without diabetes was investigated in the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project (VIP), a population based study of eye disease in a representative sample of Melbourne residents 40 years of age and older. Methods-A comprehensive interview was employed to elicit information on history of diabetes, medication use, most recent visit to an ophthalmologist and optometrist, and basic demographic details. Presence and extent of diabetic retinopathy was determined by dilated fundus examination. 2 3 There is a high rate of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy when diabetes has been present for more than 30 years, with approximately two thirds of people having lost vision after 35 years of diabetes. Results-The 4Current treatments, if appropriately timed and rigorously applied, may be eVective in preventing up to 98% of severe visual loss and blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. [5][6][7][8] This emphasises the need to ensure that individuals with diabetes receive adequate screening and are oVered timely treatment. Recommendations in Australia are for people with diabetes to have a dilated pupil examination at least every 2 years. People with signs of diabetic retinopathy, if not already seeing an ophthalmologist, should be referred to an ophthalmologist for further management. Prompt and eVective delivery of ophthalmic care to people with diabetes not only reduces personal suVering caused by blindness but also yields substantial cost savings. Previous studies have shown that the costs of providing preventative eye care are much less than the costs involved with providing support for a subsequent disability. [10][11][12] Studies from the United States have shown that current recommendations for periodic screening for diabetic retinopathy are not well adhered to. [13][14][15] However, little research has been done in Australia to determine whether people with diabetes receive regular eye examinations in accordance with recommendations. Our recent study showed that most general Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:410-414 410