Your result
You'll get a letter about your result within 6 weeks of having an eye screening test.
Tell your GP surgery if you do not get a letter within 6 weeks.
There are 3 types of result.
No eye changes
This is called no retinopathy.
This means:
- no changes to your eyes were found
- you'll be asked to come back for another test in 1 to 2 years
Some changes to your eyes
This is called background retinopathy.
This means:
- diabetes has caused some small changes to your eyes (called diabetic retinopathy)
- your sight is not affected, but it might get worse if you do not follow advice about how to prevent eye damage from diabetes
- you'll be asked to come back for another test in a year
Eye damage that could affect your sight
This is called referable retinopathy.
This means:
- diabetes has damaged your eyes
- your sight could be affected
- you'll be referred to a specialist to talk about what happens next
- you may need to have screening tests more often
- you may need treatment for eye damage from diabetes
Information:
Sometimes the pictures of your eyes may not be clear enough to give a result. If this happens, you'll be asked to have another test.
Page last reviewed: 7 September 2022
Next review due: 7 September 2025