NHS Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) programme gradually introducing OCT into the digital surveillance pathway from October

From October 2024, the NHS Diabetic Eye Screening (DES) programme will gradually introduce OCT into the digital surveillance pathway. The aim is that by October 2025 all services will offer OCT.

OCT gives more accurate results so fewer patients will need a referral to hospital eye services. Patients at low risk of developing eye problems can instead be seen by their local screening service. Each DES service will identify the small number of people who might need hospital treatment, making the referral process more efficient and freeing up hospital capacity.

Due to the gradual introduction of OCT in DES services, Hospital Eye Services should contact their local DES service for details of the timescale for local implementation of OCT and to agree a local referral protocol for OCT positive patients and discharge arrangements.

Further information can be accessed here: Diabetic eye screening: optical coherence tomography in surveillance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)