Diabetic Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the cells at the back of the eye, known as the retina. If it is not treated, it can lead to blindness.
It is important to identify diabetic retinopathy as soon as possible. Screening is an effective way of detecting retinopathy at an early stage.
The North Yorkshire NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme was introduced to reuce the risk of vision loss in people with diabetes. If retinopathy is detected early enough, it can be effectively treated using laser treatment. Otherwise, by the time the symptoms of retinopathy become noticeable, it can be much more difficult to treat.
Key Facts
What we do
As a service, we offer a free retinal screening appointment at least once a year to all patients within North Yorkshire and parts of East Yorkshire who have a diagnosis of diabetes, are over the age of 12 years and most importantly are registered with a GP.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetic-retinopathy/Pages/Introduction.aspx