Diabetic Eye Screening
Diabetic eye screening is vital as it helps to identify disease early, and can prevent sight loss. If you suffer with diabetes, your eyes are at risk of damage from diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy and screening can detect the condition early before you notice any changes to your vision.
As soon as you receive your invitation letter, please call one of our screening siteson the list enclosed to book your appointment, or see the screening venues further down the page to see the list of sites available under our programme.
For more information about the importance of attending for Diabetic Eye Screening, visit the gov.uk website.
Worried about your vision?
Our Eye Clinic Liaison officer (ECLO) provides practical and emotional support to anyone affected by sight loss, including families and carers.
For further information please contact Emily Tuska by calling 07712 540128 or emailing emily.tuska@rnib.org.uk, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
What is Diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy is caused when diabetes affects the small blood vessels in the retina of the eye. It may not cause symptoms until it is quite advanced and close to affecting a person’s sight, and in some cases can cause complete blindness.
Who is invited for diabetic retinopathy screening?
All people aged 12 and over with diabetes are invited for diabetic eye screening.
The North Nottinghamshire Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (NNDESP) invites a population of over 24,900 for screening. All of our team are accredited with the relevant NDESP qualifications.
Why should I have diabetic eye screening?
Every year, more than 1,300 people with diabetes experience sight loss that could have been picked up and prevented. Screening is an effective way of detecting diabetic retinopathy as early as possible.
Diabetes in remission
If you have been told by your GP that your diabetes has gone into remission, this means that your blood glucose levels have returned to a normal range. This is really good news and will provide many health benefits.
Diabetes UK has some useful information on diabetes in remission.
It is really important to continue to attend for your diabetic eye screening when we write to you, as changes can still happen in your eyes and screening ensures that these changes can be picked up early.
- At your appointment we will check your details to make sure the information we hold for you is up to date and accurate.
- We record how good the level of your sight is by testing your visual acuities. Please bring any prescription glasses you wear to the appointment.
- We will administer eye drops to ensure the images we take are clear. It could take up to 20 minutes for these to take effect. The eye drops can cause blurriness and sensitivity to light for up to six hours. It is very important that you do not drive to your appointment.
- We use our camera to photograph different areas of the back of your eye.
Read more on what to expect during and after your appointment.
For further information, read the guide to diabetic eye screening. This leaflet is available in other languages and formats should you require it. Please see more information and useful links page further down the page.
If you need an interpreter to be with you in person or via telephone, please call 01623 676134 to let us know in advance and this can be arranged for you.
The Diabetic Eye Screening Team consists of:
- Prema Maharajan - Ophthalmologist, Clinical Lead & Referral Outcome Grader
- Ruby Amankwah - Referral Outcome Grader
- Rachael McFee - Programme Manager
- John Duffy - Lead Optometrist
- Amanda Brooks - Failsafe Officer
- Daniella Stanley - Engagement Officer
- Sharon Worthington - Failsafe Support Officer
- Zoe Skidmore - Retinopathy Support Officers
- Calum Trail - Failsafe Support Officer
We also have a team of screeners and graders who are based at our 15 screening sites, plus Rachel Baines who is our in-house screener/grader based at Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Your diabetic eye screening can be done at any of the sites on the list below. Click on the screening site name to view directions.
Please note all Optometrist Practices are wheelchair accessible sites, but specific queries regarding access should be directed to the individual practices.
Mansfield and Ashfield
DI Blow, Kirkby-in-Ashfield
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and Slit Lamp examinations. Weekend appointments are available. Disabled parking nearby, and drop-off outside the practice.
Location:
40 Station Street
Kirkby in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 7AS
Call: 01623 752453
Visit: Diblow website
DI Blow, Sutton-in-Ashfield
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and slit lamp examinations. Weekend appointments are available.
Location:
55a Portland Square
Sutton in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 1AZ
Call: 01623 511896
Visit: Di Blow website
Scrivens Ltd
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Weekend appointments are available.
Location:
Unit 7, Idlewells Centre
Sutton in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 1BJ
Call: 01623 513954
Visit: Scrivens website
Specsavers Opticians, Sutton in Ashfield
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Weekend appointments are available. Disabled parking nearby, and drop-off outside the practice. Diabetic eye screening cannot be booked online.
Location:
37 B/C Idlewells Centre
Sutton in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 1BP
Call: 01623 552456
Visit: Specsavers website
Ashfield Health and Wellbeing Centre
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Free accessible parking available. Patients can be dropped off at the entrance. Wheelchairs available. Makaton trained screener at this site.
Location:
Portland Street
Kirkby in Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 7AE
Call: 01623 676134
Bryson, Bell and Clenton
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
Location:
59 Westgate
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 1RU
Call: 01623 623393
Duffy Optometrists Ltd
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and slit lamp examinations. Weekend appointments are available. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the Duffy Optometrists website.
Location:
31 Church Street
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 1AF
Call: 01623 622021
Visit: Duffy Optometrists website
Pinders Optometrists
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the Pinders website.
Location:
5-7 Queen Street
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG18 1JL
Call: 01623 621965
Visit: Pinders Opticians website
R.C Pinder
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the R.C Pinder website.
Location:
1 Sherwood Street
Warsop
Nottinghamshire
NG20 0JP
Call: 01623 842289
Visit: Pinders Opticians website
Newark and Sherwood
Andrew Spybey and Associates
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and slit lamp examinations.
Location:
1 Willoughby House
Church Street
Southwell
Nottinghamshire
NG25 0HQ
Call: 01636 812620
Duffy Optometrists Ltd
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and slit lamp examinations. Weekend appointments are available. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the Duffy Optometrists website.
Location:
51 Stodman Street
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1AW
Call: 01636 705677
Visit: Duffy Optometrists website
J D Opticians
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening and slit lamp examinations. Weekend appointments are available. Disabled parking nearby and drop-off outside the practice.
Location:
17/19 Appletongate
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1JR
Call: 01636 611133
Opticare Opticians
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Disabled parking nearby, and drop-off outside the practice.
Location:
3 Paxton's Court
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1DH
Call: 01636 679555
Visit: Opticare Optician website
Pinders Optometrists
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the Pinders Optometrists website.
Location:
33 Forest Road
New Ollerton
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG22 9PR
Call: 01623 863384
Visit: Pinders Opticians website
R C Pinder Ltd
This Practice offers diabetic eye screening. Disabled parking nearby, and drop-off outside the practice.
You can book routine diabetic eye screening on the R C Pinder Ltd website.
Location:
20 Queen Street
Southwell
Nottinghamshire
NG25 0AA
Call: 01636 812286
Visit: Pinders Opticians website
Feedback and complaints
You can leave your feedback via our online survey.
If you have a complaint, you can contact us by calling 01623 676134 or you can email us at sfh-tr.nndesp@nhs.net.
Alternatively, you can contact the Patient Experience Team.
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Diabetic Eye Screening
Location
Kings Mill Hospital and Ashfield Health Village
