Objective To investigate the prevalence and related factors of visual impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods Based on health records， type 2 diabetes patients from Beijing Desheng Community Health Center were enrolled into a cross-sectional investigative study. Visual acuity and the anterior segment of the eyes were checked. Two-field 45-degree color fundus images were taken through an undilated pupil. The retinal changes were graded using the Scottish Diabetic Retinopathy Grading System （2003）. Data collection was secured with Epidata. Data were analyzed using a t test， rank sum test， chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 720 patients were enrolled and 519（72.1%） participated in the survey. Thirty-four patients presented with a visual acuity of less than 0.3 in both eyes. Among them， at least one eye in 20 patients improved to no less than 0.3 with correction. The best visual acuity of the other 14 patients remained less than 0.3. The main reason for their visual impairment was diabetic retinopathy （42.9%）. Among all the participants， there were 73（14.1%） with ungraded images and 141（27.2%） with some diabetic retinopathy. In all， 150 patients （28.9%） needed to be referred to ophthalmologists due to vision threatened by diabetic retinopathy or ungraded images. The risk factors of visual impairment in diabetes patients through logistic regression analysis include diabetic duration， body mass index and diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion The main reason for visual impairment among diabetes patients was diabetic retinopathy. Screening for visual problems in the community might be one of the important strategies for the prevention of blindness among diabetes patients.