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Eye screening

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Sharron1

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi,
I am sure others are in the same boat and will be able to assist me. I am due my annual eye screening check in September and have just phoned to see how much of a catch up there is. I was told i could expect to hear in Feb 2021. Is there anywhere I can go or do I have to wait? The guy on the phone sounded so apologetic. My optician doesn't do this photo check.
 
Hi. I'm in the same boat. Many opticians now use pretty good retinal equipment but don't use the drops so not quite as good.
 
Sharron1 said:
Hi,
I am sure others are in the same boat and will be able to assist me. I am due my annual eye screening check in September and have just phoned to see how much of a catch up there is. I was told i could expect to hear in Feb 2021. Is there anywhere I can go or do I have to wait? The guy on the phone sounded so apologetic. My optician doesn't do this photo check.
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My area are leaving people had a normal screen last year till next year. Concentrating on those who are newly diagnosed or higher risk. I had my appt for April cancelled but did not expect to go ahead when my appt arrived it did not look likely.
There is talk of low risk patients having screening reduced to every 2 years even before covid.
Specsavers do but it does not get sent to screening service for review , like the screening service do.
 
I think that's about right - mine was due August/September so I rang up yesterday and spoke to a pleasant lady who said they were only seeing people who had problems, and as my results have been fine so far then I'd be contacted next year. It was what I expected, but wanted to phone just to make sure.
 
grovesy said:
My area are leaving people had a normal screen last year till next year. Concentrating on those who are newly diagnosed or higher risk. I had my appt for April cancelled but did not expect to go ahead when my appt arrived it did not look likely.
There is talk of low risk patients having screening reduced to every 2 years even before covid.
Specsavers do but it does not get sent to screening service for review , like the screening service do.
Click to expand...
That is exactly what the guy said to me, they are prioritising the list , which is fair enough. My limited understanding is the screening expertise is needed.
 
Pine Marten said:
I think that's about right - mine was due August/September so I rang up yesterday and spoke to a pleasant lady who said they were only seeing people who had problems, and as my results have been fine so far then I'd be contacted next year. It was what I expected, but wanted to phone just to make sure.
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I also thought like you that this would be the case, but just wanted to hear it.
 
I did ask my Diabetic Nurse if she knew what would happen next year if we were still in the same situation, as I am expecting we will be , she had heard of no further planning. I was not really expecting an answer, but expect problems, as my service uses many venues and some are in GP premises, though for a number of years they used a room in a Lloyd's Pharmacy, and prior to that a room in the Health Authority Headquarters.
 
I think there's been a general policy change that if your test shows no signs of background retinopathy (or ever so mild signs) then you may be asked again in 24 months (rather than 12 months). (They've decided that in such people annual screening isn't required.)
 
Bruce Stephens said:
I think there's been a general policy change that if your test shows no signs of background retinopathy (or ever so mild signs) then you may be asked again in 24 months (rather than 12 months). (They've decided that in such people annual screening isn't required.)
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I think they have been discussing but not changed the guidance, and this a Covid related issue, as I stated I had recieved an appointment for my annual test in March, for April, but got the cancellation letter just after lockdown.
 
grovesy said:
It might not save that much as if they have to take extra precautions like other setting they, are most probably not able to see as many patients throughout the day.
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No, right now I'm sure it's expensive. (I had my screening a couple of weeks ago and it was clearly not their usual setup. Normally there's a bunch of people so they had a pipeline, but this time I think I was the only person in the waiting room for most of the time.)

However, if and when we return to normal I presume screening some people less often will save a little. (I don't know what proportion of diabetics would be included (not me, apparently), but presumably it's enough to be worthwhile for now.)
 
I was due one in March, so already six months overdue so far. Maybe I will give them a phone call to see what is happening.
 
[QUOTE="Lilian, post: 1006456, member: 15987"
I was due one in March, so already six months overdue so far. Maybe I will give them a phone call to see what is happening.
[/QUOTE]
My local Retinopathy Screening Service has a message on their website what the current situation is.
 
Mine is not the regular Retinopathy Screening as they passed me on to the hospital. I do not get called for retinal screening now as I am supposed to be seen a the hospital every four months.
 
Spec savers do the retinopathy check with their new super dooper camera. It costs £10 I think.
 
Lilian said:
Mine is not the regular Retinopathy Screening as they passed me on to the hospital. I do not get called for retinal screening now as I am supposed to be seen a the hospital every four months.
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Oh! on my cancellation letter I was advised if I had any problems to seek advice from optician or local eye clinic.
 
Surprise surprise, I received a phone call today to make an appointment for me to go to the hospital to have my eyes screened. What usually happens is that after the screening you wait to see the consultant, who also looks at your eyes and up until now has said there has been no change, see you in four months. However this time after the screening I will be going home, and another appointment to discuss the results over the telephone has been made for 22nd December, which is filling in a cancellation, otherwise it would not be until next year. I am presuming if they find anything that needs more attention they will phone sooner.
 
Lilian said:
Mine is not the regular Retinopathy Screening as they passed me on to the hospital. I do not get called for retinal screening now as I am supposed to be seen a the hospital every four months.
Click to expand...

Im the same, I’m now under the hospital for mine. In normal times I go every 3 months. They look at my eyes, plus with drops in too and always do a set of photographs too, so I get this done four times a year not just once.

In current climate I haven't been since Feb but I am booked in for November.
 
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