Diabetic eye screening standards
Document Type
Standards
Summary
The Scottish Diabetic eye screening (DES) programme is a national screening programme. It checks for a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. This is when diabetes causes the retinal blood vessels to become blocked or to leak. Diabetic retinopathy is a leading global cause of visual impairment or blindness. As there are no symptoms in the early stages, screening is important to identify and treat diabetic retinopathy early.
The aim of the Scottish DES programme is to reduce the incidence of vision loss through diabetes. Screening is offered to eligible people aged 12 years or over who have diabetes.
We have developed standards to support DES services in Scotland.
These standards draw on current evidence, best practice and stakeholder recommendations.
Overview of standards
Standard 1: Diabetic eye screening invitation
All eligible people are invited for diabetic eye screening.
Standard 2: Diabetic eye screening
Diabetic eye screening is timely, safe, effective and person-centred.
Standard 3: Assessment of images and reporting of screening results
NHS boards ensure that image assessment is high-quality with the timely reporting of screening results.
Standard 4: Referral to optical coherence tomography or ophthalmology
NHS boards ensure timely referral for optical coherence tomography surveillance or further investigation.
Consultation feedback
You can request a copy of the responses to the consultation on DSE. You can request them from the project team at his.standardsandindicators@nhs.scot