Digital Retinal Screening
How does diabetes affect the eyes?
Who should attend retinal screening?
What is Digital Eye Screening?
Booking a Screening Test
The Screening Appointment
Screening Outcome
Where can you attend for eye screening?
How does diabetes affect the eyes?
Patients with diabetes are at risk of developing eye changes known as diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes can damage the tiny blood vessels which nourish the eye. This can lead to leakage of blood in the retina causing vision problems and even blindness. Good control of your diabetes and blood pressure reduces the risks from diabetic eye disease. Regular eye examinations can detect early diabetic changes, even before they affect vision and this can be treated with laser.
Who should attend retinal screening?
The National Screening Committee recommends annual eye screening for all diabetics aged 12 or above. This free test is available to all diabetic patients who are registered with a Wolverhampton PCT GP.
What is Digital Eye Screening?
There is a national programme for diabetic retinopathy screening. Digital photographs have replaced the previous ‘slit-lamp’ examination. Digital photography is carried out by highly trained optometrists/photographers who take retinal images using special cameras which are examined for signs of diabetic retinopathy. All images are double checked for quality assurance and then stored on a central computer.
Booking a Screening Test
Please contact one of our accredited optometrists to book an appointment. If you are registered on the screening programme you will receive a reminder letter when your eye screening is due with a list of optometrist offering the service. It is important to remember that the diabetic eye screen is different to a sight test. You can continue to have your normal eye examination and buy glasses or lenses at your chosen optician; however you must attend an accredited optometrist for the diabetic eye screen. You will receive a reminder if you fail to attend for the test.
The Screening Appointment
During your eye screening appointment, your eyes will be thoroughly examined. In order to take clear photographs your eyes will need to be dilated using special drops. You will place your chin on a support whilst your eyes are photographed. The eye drops can make your vision blurry and make your eyes sensitive to bright lights. You might find a pair of sunglasses helpful and you should not drive until your sight returns to normal. This may take between 2 and 4 hours, although it might be more or less for some people. Very rarely some people can develop side effects. If you do develop a painful eye a few hours after screening you should see urgent medical advice or attend your local A&E department.
Screening Outcome
You and your GP will be informed of the outcome of the screening test within six weeks. You will be recalled for annual screening if no significant diabetic changes are noted. However, if sight threatening retinopathy is detected, you will be referred to the Wolverhampton Eye Infirmary for further detailed assessment and consideration for laser treatment.
Where can you attend for eye screening?
Wolverhampton Diabetes Centre for patients attending the Diabetes Centre.
Overton Eyecare 743 Cannock Road, The Scotlands, Wolverhampton, WV10 8PN Telephone No: 01902 731158
Jacksons Opticians 53a Church Street, Bilston, WV14 4LF Telephone No: 01902 491358
Ashmore Park Opticians 54 Griffiths Drive Ashmore Park Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, WV11 2JW Telephone No: 01902 739777
Flint and Partners 59 Tettenhall Road Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV3 9NB Telephone No: 01902 422096
Flint and Partners 11 Church Street Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, WV11 1SR Telephone No: 01902 733475
Scrivens Opticians 6 - 8 Lichfield Street Wolverhampton City Centre WV1 1DG Telephone No: 01902 424775
R Flatters Optometrist 35 Queen Street Wolverhampton City Centre WV1 3JW Telephone No: 01902 423359
Taylor Biddle Opticians 39 Bridgnorth Road Compton, Wolverhampton, WV6 8AF Telephone No: 01902 750325
The Opticians listed below should be offering digital retinal screening from August 2008 onwards:
Marshoptical Cleveland Street Wolverhampton City Centre WV1 3HH Telephone No: 01902 420919
Miracle Eyes Opticians Unit 4 Marsh Lane Parade Fordhouses, Wolverhampton, WV10 6BA Telephone No: 01902 789900
H W Williams 6 Trysull Road Bradmore, Wolverhampton, WV3 7HT Telephone No: 01902 620352
Vision Care Direct Unit 5 Morrison’s Supermarket Bilston, WV14 0DZ Telephone No: 01902 493322
All our Optometrists have wheelchair access. Contact for further information If you have require further information you can contact the Diabetes Admin Team on 01902 695629 or email DiabetesAdminTeam@rwh-tr.nhs.uk . Further information is also available at: www.wolvespct.nhs.uk and www.wdconline.org.uk.
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