Diabetic eye screening and cataracts

[Molly56]

Just a quick question.....during the annual retinopathy screening offered to diabetics would they assess the state of someone's cataracts or is this a separate test that would have to be done separately by an optician...
...and following on from that......does the annual screening cover all tests to assess someone's eyesight or should you also have regular appointments at an opticians in addition to this.

 

[Robbity]

You should definitely have regular eye tests, as the screening is purely a check for retinopathy. My scans were done by a specialist technician and not by an optician or specialist eye doctor. They have a machine that scans your eyes and sends the scan "pictures" to a computer, and the actual checks are done later from these scan results. But I expect they'd notify you if they noticed any serious issues when assessing the scans.

I've had one cataract done well pre diabetes, and the other one is sitting not causing me major problems. At my first screening my replacement lens caused a bit of a reflection(?) issue during the scan, but nothing else was mentioned.

Robbity

 

[Molly56]

You should definitely have regular eye tests, as the screening is purely a check for retinopathy. My scans were done by a specialist technician and not by an optician or specialist eye doctor. They have a machine that scans your eyes and sends the scan "pictures" to a computer, and the actual checks are done later from these scan results. But I expect they'd notify you if they noticed any serious issues when assessing the scans.

I've had one cataract done well pre diabetes, and the other one is sitting not causing me major problems. At my first screening my replacement lens caused a bit of a reflection(?) issue during the scan, but nothing else was mentioned.

Robbity

@Robbity ....thank you for your reply...my reason for asking is that my partner (Type 2 / started on insulin in Feb) mentioned that his eyesight is getting worse. He always attends his retina screening (the last one was this April) and the letter for the last two screenings have mentioned that he has background retinopathy but that no treatment is currently required.
He is aware that he has cataracts and when I asked last night (when he mentioned his eyesight was getting worse) he blamed his worsening eyesight on the cataracts.....it was at this point he told me that he had asked about his cataracts at his retinal screening....which prompted my initial question...

So other than the screening of the retina at this appointment would or could any additional tests have been done to assess his eyesight....I wasn't there so wouldn't know....and in particular would any tests have been done to assess whether his current eyesight is sufficient for driving....this is one of my main concerns...

I have suggested that he should have his eyes tested by an optician but he is of the opinion that if he has had his retinal screening then this is sufficient to say that his eyes are ok.....is he right or should I be pushing more for a second opinion...

 

[CarbsRok]

Just a quick question.....during the annual retinopathy screening offered to diabetics would they assess the state of someone's cataracts or is this a separate test that would have to be done separately by an optician...
...and following on from that......does the annual screening cover all tests to assess someone's eyesight or should you also have regular appointments at an opticians in addition to this.

As already stated screening is just that a screen of the retina.
Optician needs to be seen so that lenses can be adjusted for cataract monitoring and all other general eye health. It's the optician who will start the process for cataract removal referral. Optician will also tell when to stop driving if sight to bad.
Oh and if your hubby has cataracts in both eyes he has to tell the DVLA. It's illegal for him not to inform them and have the relevant field vision tests. Basically he has a non valid licence and no ins if this is the case.

 

[Barry Holt]

Hi I had cataract removed inMarch 07 way before diabetes and the 3 years I started eye screening after diagnosis but in October 13 after eye screening letter arrived making me an appointment at hospital for further examination( appointment was for after Xmas and so I spent a worrying time waiting for appointment the Dr. Said its a cataract and the initial screening could not see through it properly but he gave me a do not bother about it yet ,didn't take his advice and asked to be referred for its removal got appointment at private hospital (on NHS) and in April 14 job done I used to wear specs all the time now only for reading You are entitled to annual eye test at optician when diagnosed as diabetic ,all worth having done ,don't think they do eye transplants,must be terrible to have no sight

 

[Molly56]

As already stated screening is just that a screen of the retina.
Optician needs to be seen so that lenses can be adjusted for cataract monitoring and all other general eye health. It's the optician who will start the process for cataract removal referral. Optician will also tell when to stop driving if sight to bad.
Oh and if your hubby has cataracts in both eyes he has to tell the DVLA. It's illegal for him not to inform them and have the relevant field vision tests. Basically he has a non valid licence and no ins if this is the case.

@CarbsRok ...thank you for your reply...to my knowledge my partner has not been to the optician for about three years...I have been since we both went together and know that I am overdue for a check up so can only estimate the amount of time since he last went...when his glasses broke recently (reading but not driving) he found a previous pair to wear or purchased a pair off the shelf in the chemist...
...he eventually got round to informing DVLA about starting insulin but I am pretty sure that he didn't tick the box about cataracts...he had his licence renewed for three years...am assuming if he had ticked box about cataracts they would have made further enquiries about this before renewing licence...have just checked DVLA website and notifiable conditions and noted that as you rightly say cataracts in both eyes are notifiable and in fact there is a separate form on which to do so...
....am assuming that the relevant field vision tests would only be done by the optician and that these are not covered at retina screening appointment...
.....really don't know what I can do....he is adamant that he does not need to go and see an optician ...I can only keep on suggesting that he should go.....I just fear that this is something else I am going to end up worrying about .....

 

[Pinkorchid]

Only an eye test will show how advanced your partners cataracts are and if they need to be removed if they do the optician should give him a letter for his doctor to refer him to an eye clinic. I had my cataracts removed first one last December and the second in April this year. Both times a retinal screening was done as part of the pre op assessment