What happens during diabetic retinopathy screening?

You’ll first be asked to read some letters on an eye chart. Next, drops will be put into your eyes to dilate your pupils. This allows more light to go into the eye, which makes it easier for the examiner to see the optic nerve and retina clearly and completely and to take a good photograph. The dilating eye drops may sting slightly. It should take around 15 minutes for the drops to take effect.

Once your pupils are adequately dilated, you will be asked to look into a piece of equipment that is essentially a camera. Photos will be taken of the back of your eyes. This is a non-invasive test and will not cause any pain, although there will be a bright flash when the picture is taken.

When will I get my diabetic eye screening result?

The results of your screening will not be available immediately and you’ll receive a letter with the results from your diabetic screening service. This can typically take around four to six weeks.

In diabetics, chronically high blood sugar can damage the tiny blood vessels in the retina. The clinician who reviews your comprehensive dilated eye exam will look for signs of these changes. These include microaneurysms (tiny swellings) and distortions in the blood vessels, haemorrhages, blockage of the blood supply to some parts of the retina and, in advanced stages, a proliferation (increase) of new blood vessels in response to the blockages. These new blood vessels are fragile and have a propensity to leak and bleed, which can lead to further complications such as scar formation and retinal detachment.

You will get one of three diabetic retinopathy screening results.

• No retinopathy — No changes are detected. Return in a year for another test.
• Background retinopathy — Small changes are detected, but your eyesight is not affected. Follow your doctor’s recommendations to prevent further eye damage. Return in one year for another screening.
• Referable retinopathy — Diabetes has caused damage to the eyes and your vision may be affected. You will be referred to a specialist for further advice. Screening tests may be required more often than annually, and you may need to start treatment for your eye damage.

Still not sure what to expect from a diabetic retinopathy screening? Learn more about diabetic retinopathy or book an appointment with a RetrospecsOptometrists optometrist, who will be happy to answer your questions.

Lenticular astigmatism is typically the result of an irregularly shaped lens in the eye.

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