Introduction. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is steadily increasing, not only due to an increase in the proportion of geriatric patients in the general population, but also due to an increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. However, the determinants of DR and geriatric patients with type 2 diabetes are poorly understood and controversial. Purpose of the study. Analysis of the determinants of diabetic retinopathy among geriatric patients. Material and methods. In the Tambov branch of the IRTC “Eye Microsurgery named after Academician S. N. Fedorov”, two groups of patients were examined - the main group, which included 182 patients with diabetic retinopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the control group, which included 174 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy. Examination of patients in both groups was performed according to a single method by questioning, determining laboratory and instrumental parameters. Research results. It has been shown that among the clinical determinants a high prevalence in geriatric patients with diabetic retinopathy and type 2 diabetes mellitus: microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hemoglobin level less than 100 g/l. Thus, microvascular complications among patients of the main group were detected in 46.93.7% versus 9.22.2% in patients of the control group, systolic blood pressure over 140 mm. rt. art. - in 40.13.6% and 10.52.3%, diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm. rt. art - in 54.23.7% and 22.63.2%, hemoglobin level less than 100g/l in 31.63.5% and 8.42.1% respectively. Among the behavioral determinants of diabetic retinopathy, alcohol abuse is the most common - 16.22.7% and 4.11.6% in the main and control groups. Conclusion. The results obtained can be used in the screening and prevention of diabetic retinopathy among geriatric patients.