Patient FAQs
Please click on a question below for the appropriate answer.
- Why is the Dorset diabetic eye screening programme changing?
- What is the new system?
- When is the new system starting?
- How will I know when to attend?
- Is it happening in the same optician practices as the old programme?
- What do I do if my usual optician practice is not going to be in the new system?
- What if I am registered with a GP practice that arranges screening usingthe Salisbury mobile camera?
- How will my name be on the list?
- What happens if I move?
- What if I live in Dorset but I am registered with a GP practice that is based in a different county, eg Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire?
- What if I am housebound or physically unable to sit at a camera in an optometry practice?
- What happens to the results?
- Can the eye screening be done at the hospital?
- What happens if the test shows diabetic eye disease?
- What if I have other questions that are not answered by information on this website?
- Do I need a pin number in order to book an appointment for my eye screening?
- What is the difference between an NHS sight test and a diabetic eye screen?
Why is the Dorset diabetic eye screening programme changing?
The diabetic eye screening system is being changed nationally to a digital system. Digital pictures are a permanent record and easily accessible to clinicians providing your health care.
What is the new system?
In future, digital photography will be the main way of screening for diabetic eye disease. This is simply taking photographs of the back of your eyes using a special camera. It does not hurt but the flash is rather bright. Your pupils will still need to be dilated before the pictures are taken.
In Dorset, the service will continue to be provided by accredited optometrists in practices across the county. Optometrists are the trained professionals working in the optician practices.
When is the new system starting?
All diabetic eye screening must be provided using digital photography from 1 January 2007.
How will I know when to attend?
In the future, you will be sent an annual reminder letter and a list of participating optician practices from the central screening office.
You will still need to book your appointment directly with the optician practice in the same way as you do now.
Is it happening in the same optician practices as the old programme?
Not all practices will choose to continue to take part in the new screening programme. But we expect about 40 practices to join the new programme and we believe there will be an acceptable geographical coverage across the county. There should be a participating practice within a reasonable distance of your home.
What do I do if my usual optician practice is not going to be in the new system?
You should continue to attend your usual practice for diabetic eye screening in 2006. From 2007, you will need to select a different practice for your annual diabetic eye screening test from the list that will be sent with your reminder letter.
There is no reason to change from your usual practice for your NHS sight test, which will now be recommended every two years. Your current practice will continue to send you a reminder for this test.
What if I am registered with a GP practice that arranges screening using the Salisbury mobile camera?
This service will continue to be provided by Salisbury mobile camera.
How will my name be on the list?
All patients with diabetes registered with a Dorset GP practice will be automatically included on the central screening list and this will be updated on an ongoing basis. A computer link is being set up to do this.
What happens if I move?
If you move, but are still registered with a Dorset GP (the original one or a new one), your details will be automatically changed on the central list.
If you move out of the area, you will need to register with a new GP outside of Dorset and your new practice will give you details of their local scheme.
What if I live in Dorset but I am registered with a GP practice that is based in a different county, eg Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire?
Only patients registered with a Dorset GP will be included in the Dorset scheme.
Your GP practice or its primary care trust will be able to give you details of your local scheme.
What if I am housebound or physically unable to sit at a camera in an optometry practice?
Local guidance has been issued to GPs concerning the alternatives. Please contact your GP to discuss the options. The guidance is available in the GP section of this website.
What happens to the results?
You will receive the results by letter within three weeks of your screening test. The optometrist may not be able to give you the result immediately as images must be checked before results are issued. Your GP will be sent the results at the same time as these are sent to you.
Your results will be available to your hospital diabetic clinic consultant.
Can the eye screening be done at the hospital?
If you normally have your eye screening undertaken at the hospital, this will continue until the hospital refers you back to your optician practice.
What happens if the test shows diabetic eye disease?
If your optometrist sees signs of diabetic eye disease, a second qualified person will check the photographs. If the signs are confirmed and sight threatening, an eye specialist will look at the photographs. You will then be called to an eye clinic. If the signs of diabetic eye disease are present but not threatening your sight, you may need to have more photographs taken to monitor the eye changes at a shorter interval than the normal 12 months. You will receive a letter telling you of the recommendation.
What if I have other questions that are not answered by information on this website?
Please contact the screening office on 01202 442637 and leave a message and a member of the project team will contact you.
Do I need a pin number in order to book an appointment for my eye screening?
Until the recall system is fully operational, no pin numbers will be issued or required. In the future, you will receive a reminder letter from the central Dorset Diabetic Eye Screening Office and any pin number you might need will be given on that letter.
What is the difference between an NHS sight test and a diabetic eye screen?
For an NHS sight test, the optometrist will test your near and distance vision and assess if you need glasses and then give you the correct lens prescription. You will also have a general examination of the health of your eyes. The pupils are not usually dilated with an NHS sight test. People with diabetes are normally now entitled to a free NHS sight test every two years. This is a change from the previous free annual test. The NHS sight test alone is not robust enough to routinely detect sight threatening diabetic eye disease. When you have a diabetic eye screen, your distance vision is tested, then drops are used to dilate the pupils and this takes about 20 minutes. The next step is to take two digital photographs of each eye using the special camera. These photographs are looked at very carefully to check for any signs of disease.