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Guidance

Diabetic eye screening

Information explaining the NHS diabetic eye screening programme and why it is offered.

Updates to this page

From:
NHS England
Published:
30 January 2015
Last updated:
29 August 2025
Show all updates

  1. Added an audio podcast version of the your guide to NHS diabetic eye screening leaflet

  2. Minor edits, suggested by DHSC for English language version, extended where possible into all translated versions.

  3. Updated in line with Whitehall publishing guidance.

  4. Published latest version of the leaflet in 30 languages. Amended paragraph on personal information to provide clarity (English).

  5. Added information on stages of diabetic retinopathy to the results section.

  6. Information on optical coherence tomography added. Minor changes made to improve readability.

  7. Added NHS England contact details for requesting alternative formats.

  8. Added Ukrainian translation

  9. Translations updated inline with the DES interval changes on 1 October 2023

  10. The HTML document and leaflet have been changed to reflect that if no diabetic retinopathy was detected, you will be invited for screening every 1 or 2 years.

  11. Updating confidentiality section, replacing mention of Public Health England with NHS England.

  12. Addition of 'following medical advice' to regular exercise advice under 'How you can help' section.

  13. Addition of plain A4 PDF version for printing, to provide for people unable to access this information online.

  14. Added lifetime screening pathway animations to landing page.

  15. Translations converted to HTML.

  16. Updated guidance about use of personally identifiable information.

  17. Updated diabetic eye screening leaflet.

  18. Added HTML version of diabetic eye screening invitation leaflet.

  19. Added new easy read guide, replacing out of date leaflet.

  20. Added opt-out and patient consent information to leaflet.

  21. Addition of link to audio version.

  22. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Your guide to diabetic eye screening

HTML

Details

This guidance is for people aged 12 and over who have been invited for a diabetic eye test. You can choose whether to take the test or not.

People with diabetes are at risk of damage from an eye condition called diabetic retinopathy. Screening can detect retinopathy before you notice any changes to your vision.

This screening does not look for other eye conditions, so you should continue to visit your optician for regular eye examinations as well.

See Population screening explained  for further information and videos (in English and 10 other languages) on all screening tests the NHS offers.

Resources for people with a learning disability and people with low levels of literacy include:

Order printed leaflets

Local screening services can order free printed leaflets of this information. See guidance on NHS population screening: how to order printed leaflets.

To request another format, phone 0300 311 22 33 or email england.contactus@nhs.net.

Sign up for emails or print this page

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