Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
There are over 700,000 people in Hong Kong diagnosed with diabetes, almost 10% of the total population.
High blood sugar levels cause changes in the tiny blood vessels in our organs and may eventually damage the heart, nerves, kidneys or the eyes.
Diabetes can affect the entire eye and most of them are sight threatening. They include diabetic retinopathy, maculopathy, cataract, iris neovascularization and glaucoma. As vision impairment can often be prevented with early detection of diabetic retinopathy, routine eye exams are essential for patients diagnosed with diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy screening includes the following procedures:
- Medical history taking and complaints
- Visual function tests
- Intraocular pressure measurement
- Anterior segment examination: eyelid and annex, tears, conjunctiva, cornea, iris, crystalline lens
- Posterior segment examination: vitreous, retina and macula
- Fundus photo taking
- Optical coherence tomography
- Analysis and explanation of clinical test findings
- Suggestion of appropriate referrals or management plans according to the severity of diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, and abnormal blood vessels.
Primary eye care examination not only ensures that you have clear and comfortable vision but also maintains that your visual system stays healthy and functional: a key to preventive eye care.
