World Diabetes Day

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. You can get diabetic retinopathy if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

It is caused by high blood glucose levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause vision loss if it is not diagnosed and treated.

Around 1 in 20 people with diabetes are at risk of vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy.

Who diabetic retina screening is for

The Diabetic RetinaScreen programme is for people in Ireland with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, age 12 years and older.

The screening programme is free of charge for everyone with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Why get diabetic retina screening

Screening is a way of finding any changes to the small blood vessels in the lining of the retina. Screening can find and treat retinopathy early. It involves having a photo taken of your eyes with a digital camera.

When retinopathy is caught early, treatment is effective at reducing or preventing damage to your sight.

The longer you have had diabetes, the more likely you are to develop diabetic retinopathy.

When screening takes place

For most people, diabetic retina screening is once a year.

If you have had no retinopathy in your last 2 screenings, your next screening will be in 2 years’ time.

Digital surveillance eye screening is where your eyes are monitored more than once a year, but you do not need treatment.