Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP)

Click here to find your nearest screening site

To book a test, call one of the sites that offer Diabetic Eye Screening and simply quote your NHS number. If you don't know it - click here to find your NHS number. 

If you can't get an appointment at your chosen opticians within 6 weeks please call the DESP team on 0151 604 7369. 

If your letter says you need a slit lamp examination, this is because we could not get a clear view of the back of your eyes using digital photography. Click here for a list of available screening sites that offer the slit lamp examination. 

Some screening sites can only offer appointments on certain days of the week. Click here to see appointment availability. Green shows when appointments are generally available, but always call the screening site first to see if they have availability on a day that would suit you best. 

Untreated diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of sight loss. When the condition is caught early, treatment is effective at reducing or preventing damage to your sight. 

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes affects small blood vessels, damaging the part of the eye called the retina. It can cause the blood vessels in the retina to leak or become blocked.

We invite everyone with diabetes aged 12 and over for diabetic eye screening. How often you are invited for screening will depend on the results from your last 2 screening appointments. If no diabetic retinopathy was detected, you will be invited for screening every 1 or 2 years.

Diabetic eye screening is not covered as part of your normal eye examination with an optician. Screening does not look for other eye conditions and you should continue to visit your optician regularly for an eye examination as well.

To find out more about Diabetic Eye Screening including what happens at a test and your results, visit: Diabetic eye screening - NHS

More information can be found using the links at the bottom of this page or at the GOV.UK website. All leaflets are available in ten other languages. 

If you have any additional communication needs or a learning disability, please fill out the SeeAbility form to tell the Optometrist about you and your eyes and take it with you to your appointment. Your supporter can help fill this form in with you. If you are unable to print a copy, contact our friendly team who will send you one in the post. 

After your appointment, we would love to hear about your experience with our service. Please click here to complete a quick patient satisfaction survey or scan the below QR code. 

Contact us:

Diabetic Eye Screening Programme - 0151 604 7369

Patient Feedback Form