Diabetic Eye Screening

What is diabetic eye screening?

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.

To minimise the risk of this happening, people with diabetes should:

  • Ensure they control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Attend diabetic eye screening appointments – annual screening is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over to pick up and treat any problems early on

Untreated diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of sight loss. You are at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy whether your diabetes is controlled by diet, tablets or insulin.

Attending your regular diabetic eye screening appointments is important because diabetic retinopathy does not tend to have any obvious symptoms until it is more advanced. Treatment can help stabilise the changes in your eyes caused by diabetes and stop your vision from getting any worse.

 

How to book Diabetic eye screening Test?

If you have diabetes and you're aged 12 or over, you'll get a letter asking you to have an eye screening test. You will be invited yearly or two yearly depending on the outcome of your screening test.

If it’s been more than a year since your last test, and you did not receive a letter advising you would now be screened every two years, ask your GP or contact your local eye screening service as below.

For further information on Diabetic Eye Screening, please visit the NHS website.

Diabetic eye screening: information leaflets - GOV.UK