If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your risk of diabetic retinopathy increases during pregnancy.
Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who become pregnant need eye screening more often.
Ask your diabetes nurse or midwife about eye screening during pregnancy.
You do not need diabetic eye screening if you develop gestational diabetes.
Why diabetic retina screening in pregnancy is important
Diabetic retina screening checks for changes in your retina (back of your eyes). These changes could affect your sight or cause other eye problems.
The risk of serious eye problems is greater during pregnancy.
Early treatment of retinopathy can reduce or prevent damage to your sight.
Referral for Diabetic RetinaScreen while pregnant
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and get pregnant, your midwife, diabetes nurse or hospital doctor will register you with Diabetic RetinaScreen.
Diabetic RetinaScreen will arrange a screening appointment for you.
Diabetic retina screening appointments in pregnancy
You will be offered screening at least 3 times:
- at your booking visit, or soon after
- around week 34 of pregnancy
- around 20 weeks post-pregnancy
There is no need for a first screening appointment if you have been screened for diabetic retinopathy in the last 3 months.
If we find early stages of retinopathy at your first screening, we will offer you another test around week 24 of your pregnancy.
If we find significant retinopathy at any screening, we will refer you to an eye specialist in hospital. This is to have more tests.
A screening appointment will last about 30 minutes.
More information about your appointment
What to expect during your appointment
Diabetic eye screening uses special digital photography to look for changes in your retina (back of your eyes) that could affect your sight.
Having the digital photos taken of your eyes is painless. The camera does not come in contact with your eyes.
Drops will be put into your eyes to make your pupils larger for a short time. It is safe to get these drops while you are pregnant. They may sting for a few seconds and affect your sight for 4 to 6 hours. Do not drive a vehicle or use machinery after your appointment.
If you need treatment for diabetic retinopathy, the treatment is also safe during pregnancy.
After your appointment
We will send a letter about your test results to:
- you
- your GP
- your maternity hospital
- the person who referred you for eye screening
You will get this letter within 3 weeks of your test. It will explain your results and next steps.
Your results
Most people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will have a normal result. This means that you have no retinopathy. We will invite you back for diabetic retinopathy eye screening when your next test is due.
If you have early changes to your retina (back of your eye), we will invite you for more frequent screening.
If you need treatment, we will refer you to a Diabetic RetinaScreen treatment clinic in a hospital. This follow-up assessment and treatment is free.
Diabetic retina screening results
Further appointments
We will offer you another appointment if:
- the photographs we take in the screening test are not clear enough to give a result
- you have diabetic retinopathy that needs to be assessed
- we detect other eye conditions that are not caused by diabetes