HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Diabetes eye checks (retinal screening)
Whakamātau-ā-karu mō te mate huka (te arāi karu)
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Diabetes can badly damage your eyes before you notice any change in your sight.
Getting a diabetes eye check (retinal screening) is very important for saving your sight. A diabetes eye check is used to pick up any damage to your eyes so it can be treated before you lose your sight. This is different to a normal eye check for your glasses.
Your eye‑care professional will take a photo of the back of your eye. Sometimes they will look at the back of your eye through a special light called a slit lamp.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you should have a diabetes eye check five years after being diagnosed with diabetes. Then have one at least every two years.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you should have a diabetes eye check when you're first diagnosed with diabetes. Then have one at least every two years.
Your eye‑care professional may recommend you have a diabetes eye check more often than every two years.
You do not have to pay for a diabetes eye check.
Your general practice team or diabetes clinic team will refer you to have the eye check.
On the next page: Diabetic retinopathy
Written by Canterbury optometrists. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed March 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIDYE-139181
