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Preparation depends on which retinal imaging test your clinic plans to use. Check your appointment letter or call ahead to ask whether you will have dilating drops, whether you should arrange transport, and how and when you will receive the result. A retinal photograph and an OCT scan show different information, and a clinician interprets the images alongside your history and examination—not as a stand-alone diagnosis.
How to prepare for a retinal scan
There is no single preparation routine for every retinal scan. Your appointment may involve fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT), or more than one test, and clinic procedures differ. Follow the instructions from the service that booked you.
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- Read your appointment letter or contact the clinic to confirm which test is planned and whether your pupils will be dilated.
- Bring your glasses or contact lenses. NHS diabetic eye-screening guidance also suggests bringing contact lens solution if you may need it.
- If attending the Gloucestershire Hospitals retinal imaging service, bring a current medication list; ask another clinic whether it wants one.
- If drops are planned, follow the clinic’s advice about transport. NHS guidance warns that you may not be able to drive after diabetic eye screening.
- Consider bringing sunglasses for comfort if bright light bothers you after drops. They are optional, not a treatment or requirement.
The sources cited here do not establish fasting or stopping medicines as routine requirements for retinal photography or OCT. Do not change medicines or usual care unless your own clinician tells you to.
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For NHS diabetic eye screening in England, the NHS describes a vision-chart check, usually dilating drops, and photographs taken with a camera. The appointment takes around 30 minutes, and the result is not given on the day because the photographs need expert review. These details apply to that screening programme, not every retinal imaging appointment. See NHS diabetic eye screening guidance.
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Can I drive after eye drops?
Dilating drops can blur vision and make eyes more sensitive to bright light for a few hours. Plan transport according to your clinic’s instructions rather than assuming you will be safe to drive. NHS guidance says sight may be blurry for a few hours after diabetic screening; Gloucestershire Hospitals estimates blur may last four to six hours after its retinal imaging appointment. That estimate is specific to that service, not a guarantee for everyone. Its patient leaflet is available at Gloucestershire Hospitals retinal imaging appointment information.
What does a retinal photograph or OCT scan show?
The tests produce different kinds of images. The right one depends on the clinical question, and one type of image does not automatically replace another.
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| Test | What it produces | What it can help assess |
|---|---|---|
| Fundus photography | A photograph of the visible back of the eye. | Visible retinal appearance and changes that a clinician can assess with your history and examination findings. See AAO EyeWiki’s fundus photography reference. |
| Optical coherence tomography (OCT) | Cross-sectional images of tissues at the back of the eye, produced using light. | Retinal structure; in diabetic eye monitoring, OCT can help assess diabetic maculopathy. See Cambridge University Hospitals’ OCT information and Moorfields’ OCT scan information. |
Some services also offer wider-field imaging. Moorfields Private describes its ultrawide imaging as capturing more than 80% of the retina in one image; this is a description of that provider’s offering, not a specification for all imaging devices. Details are at Moorfields Private’s ultrawide retinal imaging page.
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An image may be normal, show a change that needs monitoring, or lead to further tests or referral. If a photograph is not clear enough, NHS diabetic screening guidance says you may be asked to repeat the test. A photograph or OCT printout is not, by itself, a diagnosis: clinicians consider it alongside symptoms, medical history and examination findings, and may order more tests.
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How to understand retinal scan results
Result wording and follow-up depend on the test, clinic and reason for imaging. For NHS diabetic eye screening in England, the NHS describes three result groupings. These labels and intervals should not be applied to other scans or services.
| NHS diabetic screening result | What it means | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| No eye changes (no retinopathy) | No changes were found. | Routine screening is generally offered again in around one to two years. |
| Some changes (background retinopathy) | Small diabetes-related changes may be present without currently affecting sight. | Another screening invitation is generally sent within a year or earlier. |
| Eye damage that could affect sight (referable retinopathy) | Findings need specialist assessment. | You are referred to a specialist to discuss next steps, which may include more tests or treatment. |
The NHS says a diabetic screening result letter usually arrives within three weeks, as an expert must review the photographs. Other clinics may use different reporting times and categories. Read the NHS explanation of diabetic eye-screening results for programme details.
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OCT in NHS diabetic eye monitoring
UK government guidance says OCT was being introduced into the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme from April 2025 for closer monitoring, including assessment for diabetic maculopathy. In that programme, worsening scans can lead to referral to hospital ophthalmology for further investigation or treatment; improvement can lead to a return to routine screening every one to two years. These are programme-specific pathways, described in UK government guidance on the diabetic eye-screening pathway.
Questions to ask about your report
- Which test did you perform, and what finding needs attention?
- Is the finding in one eye or both?
- When should I expect the report, and whom should I contact if it does not arrive?
- Is another test, monitoring visit, referral or treatment planned?
- Which changes in symptoms should prompt me to contact you sooner?
When to seek advice about symptoms
If you have diabetes and notice worsening or blurred vision, or difficulty seeing in the dark, NHS guidance advises contacting your GP surgery, diabetes care team or optometrist. Those symptoms do not necessarily mean diabetic retinopathy, but should be checked. Sudden or severe changes in vision need prompt professional assessment; do not wait for a routine screening letter or try to diagnose yourself from an image.
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