Diabetic Eye Screening Service (DES)

Your care team

The Diabetic Eye Screening Service provides clinics at a range of locations across Fife including:

• Diabetes Centre, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
• Carnegie Unit, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
• Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital, Buckhaven
• Adamson Hospital, Cupar
• St Andrews Community Hospital
• Skeith Health Centre, Anstuther

It also provides a late clinic up to 8.00pm every Thursday at Carnegie Unit, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.

The Appointments Team is based at Cameron Hospital and can be contacted on:01592-226852 or you can email: fife.drsadmin@nhs.scot.

An answering machine is in use outwith office hours.

Preparing for your appointment

Remember:

• to bring all the glasses and contact lenses you wear, along with lens solution for contact lenses;
• you may be given eye drops to get a good photo so bring sunglasses with you in case the drops make your eyes feel sensitive;
• to think about how you’ll get home after your appointment if you need to have eye drops which can affect your vision.

You should not drive for a few hours after you have eye drops.

During your screening appointment

Before the screening, a health professional will check your details and explain the test to you. You'll have an opportunity to ask questions. The person doing your test will:

• check all your details with you such as date of birth, address, telephone number;
• test your distance vision – remember to bring distance glasses;
• take photographs of the back of your eyes - the camera does not touch your eyes.

The test usually takes 10 minutes, but can take up to 30 minutes if eye drops are used.

Eye Drops

There are no risks from diabetic eye screening, however, you may be given eye drops to get a good photo and there can be some side effects. If they're used:

• your eyes may sting briefly;
• your eyes may become sensitive to bright light for a short time - you may want to bring sunglasses to wear after the test;
• you can have blurred vision for several hours - you should arrange another way to get home after your appointment as you should not drive for a few hours after you have them.

Test results

You’ll usually get your test results by letter within 4 weeks.  If you haven’t had your results within 4 weeks, contact your GP Practice or the Admin office (see contact details above).

Your GP and hospital diabetes clinic also get a copy of your test results.

You will get one of four results:

• No retinopathy found;
• Minor changes are found;
• Changes needing follow-up are found;
• Unclear results (a further appointment will be arranged).