In order to determine the frequency and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (MD), a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 3,239 patients of the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology in the city of Trujillo, La Libertad region, Peru. After pupil dilation, trained personnel took two photographs of each eye, centered on macula and optic nerve. The frequency of DR was 25.9%, with a higher proportion in men with DR (28.2%) and in those with more than 10 years of MD disease (49.0%). Most patients had mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (79.3%); 10.1% had severe NPDR, and 9.7% had proliferative DR. We conclude that DR occurs in one in four patients and about 20% in advanced degrees. There is a need to expand screening coverage from the time of diagnosis of DM and to implement preventive measures such as metabolic control and periodic ocular fundus exam.