About the programme

If you’re aged 12 or over and have diabetes, you are eligible for free diabetic eye screenings, provided by the Kent and Medway Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (KMDESP).

This essential service aims to prevent sight loss by identifying early signs of diabetic eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, conditions that often show no symptoms until significant damage has occurred.

Why is Diabetic Eye Screening Important?

Diabetic retinopathy affects the small blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar levels, potentially leading to vision impairment or complete vision loss, if untreated. These conditions are asymptomatic in their early stages and may not be detected during a standard optician’s exam, which makes regular screening crucial.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

At your appointment, you will be offered tropicamide eye drops – these can sting for a few seconds, but will increase the size of your pupils and provide a clearer view of the back of your eye (the retina). After 15 minutes or so of waiting you will be called back in for photos of your retina to be taken. For some people the screener will look and grade your retinas there and then, or an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine will used.

Booking and Contact Information

You’ll receive an invitation when you are due your screening. If you need to reschedule your appointment, or would like to make reasonable adjustments, please contact the Kent and Medway DESP Bookings Team on 01233 880000 (8am to 8pm).
Remember: These screenings are essential to protect your sight and help detect any issues before they impact your vision.