Retinopathy was assessed using a Canon nonmydriatic retinal camera (CR-45NM) in 42 young Indian diabetic patients (26 with malnutrition-related and 16 with insulin-dependent diabetes). Four patients with malnutrition-related diabetes (15.38%) had retinopathy (Level 3 in all 4). The duration of diabetes in them was 3.25 years. None of the four had hypertension or albuminuria. Five patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (31.25%) had retinopathy (Level 2 in 1 patient, Level 3 in 2, Level 5 and 6.5 in 1 each). The duration of diabetes in this group was 9.7 years. Three each (60%) had albuminuria and hypertension. Thus, retinopathy seemed to occur earlier in patients with malnutrition-related diabetes, and its incidence was discordant with that of nephropathy.