What is this programme?
This is an NHS service for people over the age of 12 with diabetes who are registered with a Somerset GP. The service offers annual digital eye screening and is based in six sites across the county. You will be sent an appointment to attend a site close to your home, however if you wish to be screened at one of our other sites when you receive your appointment please let us know and we can change it for you. If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible and we can make you another and offer the appointment you have cancelled to someone else.
What is retinopathy?
Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age in the UK. This is due to a condition called retinopathy. Retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the nerve tissue lining the back of the eye, which senses light and colour and sends it to the brain as electrical impulses. Diabetes causes the capillaries - tiny blood vessels - in the retina to become blocked, resulting in inhibited sight. Research shows that if retinopathy is identified early, through retinal screening, and treated appropriately, blindness can be prevented in 90 per cent of those at risk. So we encourage you to attend your appointment.
What will happen at my appointment?
You will be met by a Health Care Assistant who will take a brief history of your diabetes and eye care. Then they will record your vision using a chart similar to that used at an optician; please bring all your usual spectacles to the appointment. You will then have eye drops put into your eyes. These eye drops sting briefly but they enlarge the pupil which is needed to obtain a good image. We also suggest that you bring sunglasses with you for after the test as your eyes can be sensitive to the light.
You will then have a short wait to allow the drops to work. A Screener will then capture two images of the back of each of your eyes. This image will appear on a screen in front of you and the screener will be able to explain the image to you, although they will not be able to give you a diagnosis because as part of our quality assurance process many of our images are graded by another member of our team.
The screening process is explained in “Eye Screening for People with Diabetes – The Facts”, this leaflet will be sent with your appointment details.
How will I get my results?
We will send a written result to your home address within approximately three weeks. A copy of these results will be sent to your GP. We would also like to advise you to continue to attend your optometrist (optician) for your sight test and suggest you take your screening result letter with you.
If we find diabetic changes, that require treatment or further assessment, the screening programme will refer you directly to a hospital; Taunton and Somerset Hospital, Musgrove or Yeovil Hospital.
Where do you screen?
Screening Venues
When do you screen?
We screen on different days at the various sites but generally our clinics run from Monday to Friday. 9am to 4:15 pm. There are also a limited number of evening clinics at South Petherton and Wellington for people who would prefer a later appointment. We do run some Saturday clinics for people unable to get to a weekday appointment although spaces are limited.
You can contact us on 01823 346126 Monday to Friday between 08.00 and 16.00
Travel to screening Venues
Please note it is not safe to drive home after being screened, as your eye sight is affected and your insurance is not valid. Therefore we ask that you find an alternative way to attend your appointment. If you have problems with transport please let us know and we will provide you with the contact details for your local community transport provider.
Comments and Questions
If you have any comments on the service please write to
Diabetes Intermediate Care Service Manager
Somerset Diabetic Eye Screening Programme
Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Park Gate House
East Reach
Taunton
TA1 3ES
or telephone 01823 346126 Monday to Friday between 08.00 and 16.00.
