AIM: To assess the prevalence of retinopathy in newly diagnosed south Indian type 2 diabetic patients attending a diabetic centre. METHODS: 448 consecutive newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients were recruited. Four field retinal colour photography was performed and graded using a modified form of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grading system. RESULTS: Of the 438 patients with assessable photographs, 32 (7.3%, 95% confidence interval 5.0 to 10. 2) had retinopathy. None of the variables tested showed a significant association with retinopathy on univariate or multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of retinopathy at diagnosis among clinic based south Indian patients with type 2 diabetes appears to be lower than that reported among Europeans.