Research Objective: assessment of the degree of progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients who have had a coronavirus infection. Methods. A retrospective and prospective analysis of the severity of DR was performed in 84 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent COVID-19. Based on a comparative analysis of the dynamics of the disease during the pandemic (2020-2021) and the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019). Results. In persons who underwent COVID-19, the progression of the stages of non-proliferative retinopathy prevailed. In most cases, there was a transition from the mild stage of non-proliferative retinopathy to moderate and moderate to severe. Conclusion. Postponed COVID-19 contributes to a significant progression in the form of an increase in the level of the non-proliferative stage of DR