Retinopathy screening

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From the start of this year primary care trusts throughout England are implementing diabetic screening programmes in accordance with new national standards.

Though there is some delay in certain areas in moving to a camera-based grading system (my own PCT, for example, has postponed the new scheme roll out and maintains the optometrist slit-lamp BIO scheme for the near future) plans are well in place for a unified screening approach in the coming year.

There are many stated objectives for the new screening scheme, first on the list being a minimum reduction of new blindness related to diabetic retinopathy within five years (and a 40 per cent reduction as an achievable standard). Assuming good patient compliance with attendance and a standardised competence among involved screeners, these admirable targets seem perfectly reasonable.