About my test
What will happen during your appointment and what to do if you need to change your appointment.
How will I know about my appointment?
Your appointment letter
You will receive a letter in the post inviting you to attend an appointment.
The letter will tell you where and when the appointment will be.
Where will my appointment be held?
Your invitation letter will tell you where your diabetic eye screening appointment will take place.
This will usually be at UHI House, Old Perth Road, Inverness. This is next to Raigmore Hospital.
For some people it will be at the nearest community hospital, where possible.
Preparing for your appointment
Glasses and contact lenses
Remember to bring all the glasses and contact lenses you wear along with lens solution for contact lenses.
Sunglasses
Bring sunglasses with you in case you are given eye drops which can make your eyes feel sensitive.
Driving and getting home
You should not drive for a few hours after the eye drops. Plan a way home after your appointment.
During your appointment
Sight test
Before the test, a health professional will check your details and explain the test to you.
You will first do a sight test.
If you wear glasses bring these with you and wear them for this test.
Photograph
You will then have a photo taken of your eyes.
You should take your glasses off for this.
The camera
You put your chin on the rest and your forehead on the bar.
The camera will be brought towards you to see if your pupil is big enough to take a photo.
The camera does not touch your eyes.
Eye drops
If your pupils are not big enough the screener will put eye drops in your eyes.
The drops may sting a little and you cannot drive for several hours after.
Wait for 15-20 minutes
You will be asked to take a seat in the waiting area for 15-20 minutes to let the eye drops work.
Continuing with the photograph
The screener will then go ahead with the photos of your eyes.
To take the photo you concentrate on a spot of light.
This will be followed by a flashlight.
Both eyes
This will be done for both eyes.
The test is then finished.
Your results
You and your GP will be posted a letter with your results around 4 weeks after the test.
Diabetic eye screening (DES) - what to expect at your appointment
A video by Public Health Scotland
Back to the beginning
Let's go back to the beginning and look at:
Diabetic eye screening (Easy Read)
