Eye screening does not replace your normal eye test. You will still need to go to your opticians.
Your GP has asked us to screen your eyes. This service is free and part of your overall diabetes care.
Your diabetes means that you are at risk of developing diabetic eye disease (diabetic retinopathy). Diabetic eye disease can cause sight loss.
Eye screening can detect the condition early before you notice any changes to your vision.
Normal Eye - Healthy blood vessels
Eye with Retinopathy - tiny blood vessels leak fluid into the retina
If changes are found in time, diabetic eye disease can be treated, preventing sight loss for most people. Attending your regular eye screening when invited can detect diabetic retinopathy early.
This condition affects small blood vessels in the back of the eye (the retina). It can cause the blood vessels to leak or become blocked.
The retina is the seeing part of the eye, if it is damaged it can affect your vision.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, you may not notice any changes that affect your sight. However, if left untreated, this condition can get worse and affect your vision. Diabetic retinopathy can progress and cause irreversible sight loss, including blindness.
No, diabetic eye screening is different from your regular eye test with an optician. To keep your eyes healthy it is important you regularly attend for both your optician and diabetic eye screening.
Normal pupil
Pupil after eye drops (dilated)
If you need help with your screening appointment please let us know. You should call us on 0300 003 0500 if you:
Family members will not be able to translate for you. You will need to let us know before your appointment so we can arrange this for you.
Camera seating position
Eye screening is a key part of your diabetes care. Untreated diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of sight loss. Screening can detect changes in the retina at an early stage, before you are aware of them.
Diabetic eye screening will identify eye changes in more than 19 people in 20. If these changes are detected in time, treatment is very effective at preventing sight loss in the majority of people.
Around 1 in 50 people that have the test will be referred to an eye specialist for investigation or treatment of their retinopathy.
No. Eye screening can find retinopathy at an early stage, but does not stop it developing.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes and are aged 12 years or over, you will be invited. The only exception is people who have no sight at all in both eyes.
Regardless of how your diabetes is controlled, whether you attend your GP or a hospital consultant, you still need to attend for screening.
Depending on the level of diabetic retinopathy and any sight loss, you may be referred to a specialist eye clinic for further assessment and treatment.
Eye screening can identify retinopathy that may not require treatment. Most people with retinopathy (9 out of 10) are monitored through yearly screening and do not need to be referred.
Laser treatment and eye injections are both very effective at preventing sight loss in most people if carried out at the right time. The specialist at the hospital will explain this to you.
Whether or not you have diabetic retinopathy, it is always important to try and keep your blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol at your target levels. This can slow or reverse early eye damage caused by retinopathy.
We need to keep your personal information so we know if and when you have had an appointment or whether you have decided not to have one.
Your screening records, including photographs and records of actions taken, are held by the screening programme.
For more information, our privacy statement is available on Diabetic Eye Screening website.
If you would like a hard copy, please contact our screening centre on 0300 003 0500.
Details about you, and information relating to your diabetes, are received from your GP by the screening programme. This includes your name, date of birth, address. We might also store information that will affect your screening appointments (e.g. language needs).
Your information will not be passed outside the NHS.
If you do not wish to have your information passed to the screening programme, you should discuss this with your GP as we will be unable to screen you.
Where can I find out more? It is your choice whether to have screening or not. If you decide you do not want any more invitations, you can opt out by contacting us. For further information visit the Diabetic Eye Screening website.
Diabetic Eye Screening Wales, 1 Fairway Court, Upperboat, Treforest CF37 5UA, 0300 003 0500.
We welcome correspondence and phone calls in Welsh. We will respond to correspondence in Welsh without delay.
You can read more about eye screening and diabetic retinopathy at: