Retinal Screening
Who is eligible?
If you have diabetes and are over 12 years old you will be invited every year to take part in the National Screening Programme for Diabetic Retinopathy.
This is equally true whether you need insulin, tablets or to manage your diet to keep your diabetes under control and whether your GP or a consultant diabetologist helps you to manage your diabetes.
Why go for screening?
- When diabetes affects the small blood vessels in the retina (back of your eye) this is known as diabetic retinopathy.
- In the early stages, diabetic retinopathy will not affect your sight. However, if the changes get worse, eventually your sight will be affected
- Untreated diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness in the working-age population.
- Laser treatment is very effective at reducing loss of sight from diabetic retinopathy.
- Screening will detect whether you need to be followed up or treated in an eye clinic for diabetic retinopathy.
Useful Leaflets
Diabetic Retinopathy Facts
Eye Screening For Diabetes
Useful websites
www.retinalscreening.nhs.uk
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
www.diabetes.org.uk
- GP
GP stands for General Practitioner. GPs are family doctors.