Diabetic Eye Screening
Why does eye screening matter?
If you have diabetes, it can affect your eyes. This is called diabetic retinopathy (eye disease caused by diabetes). It can damage your sight, but often there are no warning signs until the damage is advanced.
Eye screening helps find problems early, before they affect your vision. Treatment works best when started early. That is why everyone with diabetes, aged 12 and over, is invited for screening once a year.
Keeping your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol under control also helps protect your eyes.
What happens at your appointment
When you come for diabetic eye screening:
We check your vision. Bring your glasses or contact lenses (and lens solution if you use contacts). This test does not replace your normal eye test at the optician.
We put special drops in your eyes. These make your pupils bigger so we can see the back of your eye. The drops can blur your vision for up to 4 hours. You must not drive afterwards.
We take photographs of the back of your eyes. The camera will not touch your eye or blow air into it. There will be a bright flash each time a photo is taken.
Extra tests you may be invited to
Sometimes photos show early changes or are not clear enough. In these cases, you may be invited to one of these tests:
digital surveillance – photos are taken more often, so we can keep a closer eye on changes.
slit lamp assessment – a specialist looks closely at your eyes using a special machine.
OCT scan (optical coherence tomography) – a scan that shows detailed pictures of the retina (the back of the eye) and checks for swelling.
during pregnancy – if you are pregnant, you will have eye tests more often. Please let us know as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
What happens after your test
You will not get your results on the day. Specially trained staff look at the photos carefully.
We send your results to you and your GP within six weeks.
The letter will tell you what we found and when you need to come back.
Very rarely, people may have pain after the drops. If this lasts more than six hours, contact your GP or go to Accident and Emergency.
Helpline numbers
James Cook University Hospital: 01642 854096
Darlington Memorial Hospital: 01325 743472
Referral to a specialist
If your screening shows changes that need treatment, we will refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). You will get a letter inviting you to a hospital clinic.
Referral centres
The James Cook University Hospital
Ophthalmology
Marton Road
Middlesbrough
TS4 3BW