Save the date! We’re pleased to announce details of our 2024 ‘Diabetic RetinaScreen clinical conference 2024: Innovating retina screening for the future’ which takes place on Friday 8 November at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. To keep up to date, more information can be found here.
- Bulletin Spring 2024
- Bulletin November 2023
- Bulletin Spring 2023
- Register a patient for Diabetic Retina Screen
- List of current screening locations (updated February 2023)
- List of treatment clinics
- Letter to Health Professionals about Diabetic RetinaScreen
(pdf link - March 2014)
Useful information about Diabetic RetinaScreen
How to check a patient is on the Diabetic RetinaScreen register
A GP can check a patient is on the Diabetic RetinaScreen register by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 (choose option 4).
We will need to confirm some of your patient's personal details to check whether they are on our register:
- Forename(s) and middle names
- Surname (or family name)
- Surname at birth
- Date of birth
- Mother's maiden name
- Address
- Telephone number
- GP details
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Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in working age individuals' in Ireland, at the present time. It is estimated that there are approximately 190,000 people in Ireland with diabetes and 10 per cent of them are at risk of sight threatening retinopathy.
Diabetic RetinaScreen commenced its national population-based diabetic retinopathy screening programme at the end of February 2013 and this is being introduced on a phased basis to ensure quality and safety.
Diabetic RetinaScreen will deliver great benefits to men and women with diabetes in Ireland who are at risk of sight threatening retinopathy, enhancing quality of life and preserving sight for longer. Of the population screened and treated, it is expected that six per cent will be prevented from going blind within a year of treatment and 34 per cent within ten years of treatment.
- Blood sugar levels
The control of blood sugar levels is of immense importance. Lower blood sugar levels can delay the onset and slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy
- Blood pressure
High blood pressure damages blood vessels, raising the chances for eye problems. Effective control of blood pressure reduces the risk of retinopathy progression and visual acuity deterioration
- Duration of diabetes
The risk of diabetic retinopathy developing or progressing increases over time. After 15 years, 80 per cent of Type 1 patients will have diabetic retinopathy. After 19 years, up to 84 per cent of patients with Type 2 diabetes will have diabetic retinopathy
- Blood lipid levels (cholesterol and triglycerides)
Elevated blood lipid levels can lead to greater accumulation of exudates, protein deposits that leak into the retina. This condition is associated with a higher risk of moderate visual loss
- Pregnancy
Women who have diabetes and become pregnant have an increased risk of developing retinopathy. If they already have diabetic retinopathy, it may progress
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Diabetic RetinaScreen - the National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme, commenced at the end of February 2013 and is being introduced on a phased basis to ensure quality and safety.
It is a government-funded programme providing free, regular diabetic retinopathy screening to all persons with diabetes aged 12 years and older on the Diabetic RetinaScreen register. All international evidence and research shows that there is no advantage to screening for retinopathy before the age of 12.
The programme is being implemented and managed by the National Screening Service (NSS), which is part of the Health Service Executive (HSE). This is the first non-cancer population based screening programme to be undertaken by the NSS.
This is a call/re-call screening programme aiming to reach a growing eligible population of 190,000+ people. This is based on over five per cent of the adult population (from the age of twenty) and one per cent of the child population (aged 12 to 19) having diabetes, with a programme uptake of 80 per cent.
Digital retinal photography with mydriasis is the gold standard screening test to detect diabetic retinopathy. If treatment or follow-up is required, the client is referred to a specialist opthamology clinic or eye clinic.
Following an open EU tendering process, contracts to provide digital photography and grading services for the screening of diabetic retinopathy were awarded to Global Vision and MIDRSS Ltd.
The programme has received the contact details of the majority of known persons with diabetes from National Health Schemes such as the Medical Card Scheme, Drugs Payment Scheme and Long Term Illness Scheme.
A GP can verify their patient is on the Diabetic RetinaScreen register and can add newly diagnosed people with diabetes by calling Freephone 1800 45 45 55 (choose option 4).
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Diabetic RetinaScreen commenced screening at the end of February 2013 and is being introduced on a phased basis, however after the first round all persons registered with the programme will be invited for annual diabetic retionopathy screening.
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A Quality Assurance Committee was established and is made up of individuals from the various stakeholder groups. 'Standards for Quality Assurance in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening' are available to view here.
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Diabetic Retina Screening for pregnant women with pre-existing Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes
Pregnant women with pre-existing Type 1 and 2 diabetes can have an increased risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy. Women with pre-existing diabetes should therefore be screened for diabetic retinopathy regularly during pregnancy. Early assessment ensures that treatment can start as soon as possible and can act as a baseline to observe any further deterioration. A referral for retinal assessment for pregnancy women with pre-existing Type 1 and 2 diabetes should be made to the Diabetic RetinaScreen programme by the healthcare professional at their maternity booking appointment.
Pregnancy pathway criteria
- Pregnant women with pre-existing Type 1 and 2 diabetes
- Women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy are not included in the patient cohort
Pathway for pregnant patients [PDF]
Management of referable Diabetic RetinaScreen outcomes in the pregnant client
- Any referable diabetic retinopathy detected in a client who is known to be pregnant must be referred to the ophthalmology service for urgent assessment because of the risk of accelerated progression of diabetic retinopathy in pregnancy. The ophthalmology service must be informed that the client is pregnant in the referral letter.
- Referable routine non-diabetic eye disease will be manually sent to the treatment centres and will include reference to the pregnant state.
- If the images are ungradable the woman must be referred urgently to the ophthalmology service and include reference to the pregnant state.
Diabetic RetinaScreening During Pregnancy Leaflet [PDF]
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The National Screening Service (NSS) provides population-based screening and is part of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The NSS aims to maximise expertise and learning across population-based screening programmes and improve efficiencies by developing a single governance model for screening. The NSS also encompasses BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme, CervicalCheck – The National Cervical Screening Programme and BowelScreen – The National Bowel Screening Programme. Diabetic RetinaScreen is the first non-cancer population based screening programme to be undertaken by the NSS.
Similar to BreastCheck, CervicalCheck and BowelScreen, within Diabetic RetinaScreen, the NSS ensures that quality assurance is paramount and all the essential elements are in place to ensure risks to patients are minimised and that the best clinical outcomes for patients are maximised.
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A short list of some references and further reading has been compiled, yet is not exhaustive. Most references can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:
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Order your screening service resources from healthpromotion.ie
You can now order your screening service resources on healthpromotion.ie There are two ways to order resources from the health promotion website, depending on whether you are a member of the public or a healthcare professional.
If you have any difficulties with this process or with your password, please email the Health Information Team on healthinfo@hse.ie
If you have a query about an order already placed, please email queries@healthpromotion.ie