Diabetic Eye screening

I would say one is wrong - the question is which?

Have you had any eye treatments in that period?

I have had several scans - the first was classified as "undetermined" because they didn't get a really good picture because I was awaiting cataract surgery

Was the same method of screening used?

Well I have had cataract surgery in one eye but retinopathy isn't changed by cataract surgery as I understand it. The scans seemed the same to me but done by different Health authorities as I moved house.

Is there anyone involved with the screening program you can ask?
My theoretical thoughts - I wonder if different areas have slightly different grading methods and criteria so that in one area a single tiny sign ( such as a single isolated ‘cotton wool spot’) might count as background retinopathy whilst in another area it might need another tiny sign to be graded as such. Cataract might affect the optical quality of the scan? Just my guesses!

tanith

Well I have had cataract surgery in one eye but retinopathy isn't changed by cataract surgery as I understand it. The scans seemed the same to me but done by different Health authorities as I moved house.

No it doesn't change your eyes but it can make your results very difficult to interpret if they can't get a good picture.

When I had my cataracts
- right eye - couldn't get a picture at all (less than 10% vision) - but subsequently it was normal
- left eye (40% vision) was originally graded as moderate retinopathy - however 3 subsequent re-scans have rated it as very slight, in one sector only, with no deterioration in 2 years and I am now downgraded to 2 yearly scans.

Perhaps you should contact your diabetes clinic and see if you can get a re-scan?

Thanks I will be having a diabetic review soon so I will mention it but I’m also having my other eye operated in a month so possibly wait till that’s healed and ask for a rescan.

3yrs ago after my diabetic screening the optometrist said I had the beginnings of blindness!🥴
Since then nothing and this year a different optometrist said I had ‘perfect’ eyes!? And the previous one should never have said anything as it was not true?
Help?
They are not very sensible and their views can be very didtressing

I have had this happen to me. I have been diabetic 25 years. About 6/7 years ago after screening I was told I had mild background retinopathy, next screening I didn’t, then it was back, then it was gone. I queried this and was told it can happened, something about the blood vessels clearing. Unfortunately now it is here every screening.

I've been Type 1 for 56 of my 69 years (I got the Alan Nabarro medal to 50 years). About 15 years ago I was told I had retinopathy which was treated by laser (not nice especially if they hit the optic nerve) to cauterise the new weak blood vessels which were growing to replace the older, blocked vessels. This treatment destroys your vision at the periphery and is only done up to a certain point. I then developed an oedema near the optic nerve which would burst if not treated by monthly injections into the eyeball and these injections can improve or preserve your eyesight and they are not as bad as you might think - certainly better than retinal laser. I also had the cataract removed from the same eye last year which was fantastic but has since deteriorated and I have to go back to have the lens lasered to put it straight - quite common apparently.

This has happened to me a couple of times over the years. I asked my optician about it and she said it's just like scratching your finger. They could see some damage at one screening and the next time it has healed or got better.

It is possible for background retinopathy to disappear. My optician showed me the scan hi did privately, and it was the tiniest speck. He said it could be gone by the time the NHS screen was done, and it had. Over 15 years I have had a couple of specks come and go. As long as it doesn't deteriorate to full blown retinopathy, which won't go away.

Thanks everyone

My scan in 2024 showed slight damage to one eye . I was overweight and had high blood sugars . In 2025 I was started on Mounjaro, lost lots of weight and blood sugars near normal. My eye scan was then clear of retinopathy .