Diabetic RetinaScreen is the national screening programme for diabetic retinopathy.
The Diabetic RetinaScreen register is a list of people we invite to have free eye screening tests for diabetic retinopathy.
To go on the register, you can:
- ask a GP or healthcare professional involved in your diabetes care to register you
- register yourself
How to register yourself
- Complete an online form.
- Print the form and give it to your GP, GP practice or eye doctor.
- Your GP, GP practice or eye doctor completes, signs and stamps it.
- Send it by post to our freepost address.
Completing the online form
Go to Self registration form - diabeticretinascreen.ie.
You will need:
- your PPS number and date of birth to complete the form
- a printer to print a copy of the form
After you enter your details on the form, select Next.
The next page shows a form you can print. It has your details and a space for your GP, GP practice or eye doctor to complete.
Getting the form signed and stamped
Ask a GP, GP practice or eye doctor to complete, sign and stamp the form.
When they have done this, they will give you back the form.
Where to send the form
Send the completed, signed and stamp form to:
Diabetic RetinaScreen, FreePost, PO Box 328, North City DSU, Cork
Giving your informed consent
Each time you go to a Diabetic RetinaScreen appointment, your eye doctor will give you information and a consent form to sign.
Before they do the test, they need you to sign the form to confirm you:
- understand the information you have been given about eye screening for diabetic retinopathy
- have checked that your name, address and other details are correct
- consent to having an eye screening test for diabetic retinopathy
- consent to the eye doctor putting eye drops in your eyes at the screening appointment
This is called 'giving your informed consent'.
Take the time before your test to read it. Ask the eye doctor any questions you have.
If you would like to see the consent form before your appointment, you can download the Diabetic RetinaScreen consent form (PDF, 263 KB, 1 page).
You need to understand:
- why diabetic retinopathy screening is important
- when you will get your results
- what to expect from the test results
- why you might be contacted for a further appointment
- that we share your personal information with the screening programme and other health services that provide follow-up care and diabetes services
Signing your consent form
Sign the form when you feel you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Only you can give your consent. If you cannot sign the form, you will be asked to give your consent either verbally or by making a mark on the form.
Information we collect, store and use
We only collect, store and use information taken as part of the diabetic retinopathy screening programme.
The HSE’s National Screening Service (NSS) is the data controller for your personal information.
How we use your information
We use your personal information to:
- complete your screening test
- contact you when your next eye screening test is due
- send your results to you
- invite you for follow-up tests if you need them
We may also share your information with other health services that provide follow-up care and diabetes services.
These include:
- your GP
- the screener who took the images of your eyes
- graders who assess the images
- the National Diabetes Programme
- the hospital clinic where you get your treatment
Other ways we use your information
We may use your information to help us:
- meet quality standards
- improve our diabetic retinopathy screening programme
- meet our obligations as a public health service
We may use your information to contact you and ask you to:
- share your experience with us
- take part in research
You can choose to take part or not. We will not use your personal information as part of research without consent.
We use your information:
- as part of our quality assurance checks and audits
- for teaching and training staff
This is to help improve our diabetic retinopathy screening programme. But we will never publish your name.
How long we hold your information
We keep your personal information and records in line with the HSE record retention policy.
Your data protection rights
We will keep your personal information safe and confidential. This is in line with data protection laws and your legal rights.
You can request:
- access to your personal information
- that inaccurate or incomplete information is corrected or updated
- that we do not use or process your personal information
- that we delete your personal information
- to receive your personal information as a digital file
You can lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission at any time.
Your rights are not absolute. This means there may be situations where a request cannot be granted.
Contact us about your rights
Contact the National Screening Service Information Governance Office to:
- discuss your rights
- ask that your information is erased
- access your records
Email: dataprotection@screeningservice.ie
If you are not happy with our response, you can make a complaint to the Data Protection Commission.
Contact the Data Protection Commission - dataprotection.ie
Opt out of Diabetic RetinaScreen
You can opt out of eye screening for diabetic retinopathy.
Talk to your healthcare provider before you make decisions about opting out or opting in.
How to opt out
Freephone: 1800 45 45 55
Email: info@diabeticretinascreen.ie
How to opt back in
If you change your mind, you can have a free eye screening test for diabetic retinopathy in the future.
If you have diabetes and want to have eye screening for diabetic retinopathy, contact us.
We’ll confirm your details and arrange an appointment for you.