Difference between "diabetic eye screening" and "digital surveillance appointment"?

I believe this means they think you do not need 'treatment' but do want to keep a closer eye on you.

10 days is quick response, but it still possible this is a response to your routine test results.

This test gives you a grade depending on what they think the risk is. (See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/stages/ for more details)

I got one of those scary letters (or at least it was scary to me) to say that I had moved to Stage 1 which prompted me to read up on the subject. One of the things that I was very glad to read is that damage is not always permanent and so it is possible to move back down the stages and thankfully my next grade had gone back to clear.

My interpretation of the grades are :

Clear : No sign of retinopathy/damage - But you are still at risk simply by being diabetic.

Stage 1 Background retinopathy - high risk but we don't want to change anything yet.

At this stage, you are still on the routine Diabetic Eye Screening list and still get tested every year or two.

Stage 2 Pre-proliferative retinopathy - high risk - you still don't need treatment, but we want to keep a closer eye on you.

If you are at this stage you get put on the "Digital Surveillance" list rather than the Routine Diabetic Eye screening list. This could mean more frequent tests (i.e. could be every 3 months, or every 6, 9 or 12 months).

I didn't get to this stage, so don't have personal experience, but as far as I could tell this is carried out by the same people, but they do more tests and hopefully spend more time with you to explain things.

Stage 3 Proliferative retinopathy - very high risk, so you may need treatment.

This means you are referred to "Hospital Eye Services" for more tests and possible treatment.

As I said, you can move up and down the stages/list So, if you are moved to Stage 2 and the digital surveillance list and then, after a while your eyes improve, you could be changed back to the Routine Diabetic Eye Screening list.


One proviso is that being a bloke, I tend to skip over anything relating to pregnancy, but I know that they are often special cases and need special attention, so it is possible that pregnant women are automatically moved to the digital surveillance list regardless of their grade. And, not being an expert, it is possible that there are other reasons for being moved to the digital surveillance list that I am not aware of.