Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Clinic

Description of Service

The Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Clinic is a tele-ophthalmology program offered by the PCN to screen patients with diabetes for retinopathy. This service is offered at no cost to the patient.

Regular dilated eye exams may help prevent the progression of diabetic retinopathy— a potential complication of diabetes which can lead to blindness.

Through this program, a trained nurse takes photographs and conducts tests, including a visual acuity check and an eye pressure test for glaucoma. The photographs and test results are then transmitted securely to a team of ophthalmologists at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton.

Click HERE to book your appointment today!

Eligibility

Referral can be made by a physician, health care professional, or self-referral
Patients must be 18yrs or older
Patients must have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Patient Information

Your eyes will be dilated during your appointment.

Please arrange a ride for after your appointment
Please bring a pair of sunglasses to wear when leaving the clinic, as your eyes will be sensitive to light
Please do a blood sugar in the morning before you eat and bring with you to your appointment (If you check your blood sugars regularly)
Please bring an up-to-date list of your diabetic medications with you to your appointment

Two different pupil dilation drops will be administered (Mydfrin and Mydriacyl) so photos of your eyes can be taken. Some temporary side effects may occur, which can last up to six hours, including:

Irritable and stinging eyes
Blurry vision or glare
Irregularly shaped pupils
Minor eye redness or pain and some tears

Very rarely, a person may experience serious side effects from the drops mentioned above. These include:

Severe eye pain
Nausea and vomiting
Extremely watery eyes
Sudden vision loss

Referral Process

Referral to this clinic can be made online HERE or by phoning the central PCN office at (780) 539-9204.

Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)

Will the procedure hurt?

How long will the appointment take?

When will I get the results?