North East Essex Diabetic Retinal Screening Service

Some people with diabetes develop a condition affecting the eyes called retinopathy.  This is due to damage of the blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye.  It can lead to partial loss of vision and blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy does not always affect the sight until an advanced stage is reached by which time the damage can be difficult to treat.  Regular screening can detect the disease much earlier.  If necessary, successful treatment can be carried out to reduce the risk of blindness.

Everyone in north east Essex who has diabetes is being offered a free yearly eye screen.  This will be a digital photograph taken of the back of the eye (the retina).

For more information or to book an appointment for the screening service, contact us by:

What is diabetic eye screening?

If you are over 11 years old and have diabetes, you should have your eyes checked by a qualified professional on an annual basis to check for eye disease.

In the past, your screening was undertaken using a slit lamp.  In the future, all screening will be undertaken using digital photography - this is simply taking photographs of the back of your eyes using a special camera. This does not hurt but the flash is quite bright.  You will need to have your pupils dilated before the pictures are taken.

Why should I have it done?

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.

Diabetic retinopathy does not usually affect your sight until the changes are quite far gone.  At this stage, laser treatment is much less effective.

Who is going to provide the service?

In north east Essex, the service will continue to be provided by accredited optometrists across the county.  Optometrists are the trained professionals working in the optician practices.

Fryatt Hospital and Mayflower Medical Centre, Harwich and Colchester Primary Care Centre will also be providing digital retinal screening by accredited optometrists. 

Further information

 Diabetic Eye Screening (Adobe Acrobat - 82 Kb)

 Eye screening for people with diabetes - the facts (Adobe Acrobat - 1.85 Mb)  This leaflet sets out to answer some of your questions about screening for diabetic retinopathy.  You might also want to discuss this information with a relative or carer.

 Diabetic retinopathy - the facts (Adobe Acrobat - 1.30 Mb) (Adobe Acrobat - 1.30 Mb)  This leaflet sets out to answer some of your questions about the changes that may occur, or have occurred, in your eyes if you have diabetes.  You might want to discuss this information with a relative or carer and with a health professional. 

 Preparing for laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy (Adobe Acrobat - 1.87 Mb)  This leaflet sets out to answer the questions people with diabetic retinopathy commonly ask about laser treatment.  You might want to discuss this with a relative or carer.  Before you have laser treatment, you will be asked to sign a consent form and so it is important that you understand why you are agreeing to have treatment.