In praise of the retinal screening programme

[Flower]

It is so good to read of so many people having retinal screening done and the reassurance of a letter confirming all is fine or photography picking up really early changes in retina health and referral on to the ophthalmology services at hospitals for more in depth checks and monitoring.

I was trying to remember when the national retinal screening programme started. All the destructive eye damage I had was pre organised retina screening. Retinopathy checks were carried out on an ad hoc basis when I attended a diabetes clinic, usually done by a Doctor shining a light in my eyes and having a quick look. Medical photography was a separate department that I only came in contact with when I had sight threatening retinopathy. I found this article on the history of the scheme http://www.eyescreening.org.uk/pages/default.asp?id=1&sID=55 which gives a start date of a more organised national system starting in about 2001.

By the time I had serious problems picked up I was already at the proliferative retinopathy stage and fighting to save my sight. I can remember the doctor who saw me at a London eye hospital saying my retinas looked like war zones and I needed surgery and extensive laser to try and salvage some sight.

Thank goodness for the fantastic work of the people who established the national retina screening programme to try and prevent the devastating effects of sight loss.I know the dilating eye drops sting for a few minutes but they are worth every moment to know that all is well 🙂

 

[Matt Cycle]

Absolutely Flower. I remember having my eyes photographed at the Hallamshire around 1994 (that may have been part of a study - I can't remember) but that was it until the 2000's and the screening programme. Certainly never had them looked at at the clinic.

 

[grovesy]

An interesting read thanks for posting the link Flower.
When I first diagnosed I had to go to opticians to have done, and then a year or so later it transferred to the screen service. For the first 6 or so years it used to be the same 2 ladies doing the screening, lately it seems to be different people but the article covers why.

 

[Bloden]

I pay to have my eyes fully checked every summer when I'm in the U.K. After the initial post-diagnosis check-up, things are a bit random here in Asturias - the top floor of the local hozzie is exclusively ophthalmology and whenever I've been up there it's been REALLY busy. We should get called back every 5 years, apparently. I don't mind paying - better safe than sorry.🙂

 

[trophywench]

Goodness Bloden - I wouldn't want to leave it 5 years in between checks. Before I moved to Coventry, eye checks were done in the D clinic at Kidderminster hospital by the D consultant, using an opthalmoscope. When I first moved here, there was still a seperate Eye Hospital though the building was still attached to the old hospital here, in which the D clinic was situated - so it was an appointment in a different bit of the hospital, and they used those slit lamp thingies. Funnily enough, they still use them in ordinary opthalmology, as evidenced when I had one of my cataracts done last year. It would have been some time in the noughties when the mobile retinal photography service was rolled out to GPs in the city.

 

[Flower]

5 years is a heck of a long time for eyes to go unchecked, no wonder you pay to have them checked and get peace of mind Bloden. Things went so wrong for mine very rapidly in the space of about 12 months. Keep coming back to the UK for that reassurance 🙂

 

[Bloden]

5 years is a heck of a long time for eyes to go unchecked, no wonder you pay to have them checked and get peace of mind Bloden. Things went so wrong for mine very rapidly in the space of about 12 months. Keep coming back to the UK for that reassurance 🙂

Don't you worry, I'll keep on having my annual check-up! 😎

 

[happydog]

You are so right Flower. I think that it is a brilliant service and although I was really scared the first time I don't hesitate to go now when the invitation comes. 🙂