ObjectiveTo investigate the awareness of diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevention and treatment knowledge of diabetic patients in the community of Shenzhen, and analyze its influencing factors.MethodsA cluster random sampling method was used to select 904 patients with diabetes diagnosed in 6 community health service centers in 2 administrative districts of Shenzhen and included in this study. Questionnaire survey of patients were performed to understand their knowledge of DR prevention and treatment. The multi-factor logistic regression analysis method was used to analyze the related influencing factors of DR prevention knowledge awareness.ResultsAmong 904 patients, 144 patients (15.93%, 144/904) knew about DR prevention and treatment knowledge. The highest awareness rate were about "Diabetes can affect vision and even cause blindness" (88.60%, 801/904). The lowest awareness rate (6.20%, 56/904) were about "DR treatment methods". About "diabetes requires regular fundus examinations" and "diabetics", the awareness rate of fundus examination interval were less than 50.00%. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gender [odds ratio (OR)=1.595], education level (OR=2.963, 3.937), monthly income level (OR=3.871, 4.675), diabetes course ≥15 years (OR=1.829), treatment measures (OR=3.318, 4.512). Whether people had DR (OR=1.605) were important factors that affected the awareness of DR prevention and treatment knowledge (P＜0.05).ConclusionsThe overall awareness of DR prevention and treatment knowledge among diabetic patients in the community of Shenzhen is relatively low. Males, low education and income levels are the main influencing factors.