Your Screening Result

NHS

You'll get a letter about your result within 6 weeks of having an eye screening test. Tell your GP surgery if you do not get a letter within 6 weeks. There are 3 types of result.

No eye changes

This is called no retinopathy. This means:

  • no changes to your eyes were found
  • you'll be asked to come back for another test in 1 to 2 years

Some changes to your eyes

This is called background retinopathy. This means:

  • diabetes has caused some small changes to your eyes (called diabetic retinopathy)
  • your sight is not affected, but it might get worse if you do not follow advice about how to prevent eye damage from diabetes
  • you'll be asked to come back for another test in a year

Eye damage that could affect your sight

This is called referable retinopathy. This means:

  • diabetes has damaged your eyes
  • your sight could be affected
  • you'll be referred to a specialist to talk about what happens next
  • you may need to have screening tests more often
  • you may need treatment for eye damage from diabetes

Sometimes the pictures of your eyes may not be clear enough to give a result. If this happens, you'll be asked to have another test.

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