Screening and monitoring for diabetic retinopathy

Screening starts at diagnosis for patients with type 2 diabetes, and 2 to 5 years after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (after age 11 years), unless the patient has comorbidities that put them at higher risk. Factors that increase risk or are associated with retinopathy include chronic hyperglycaemia, longer diabetes duration, diabetic kidney disease, elevated blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and tobacco smoking. Advice on frequency of screening for and monitoring of retinopathy is outlined in Recommended frequency of screening for and monitoring of chronic complications and conditions associated with type 1 diabetes for type 1 diabetes and Recommended frequency of screening for and monitoring of chronic complications and conditions associated with type 2 diabetes for type 2 diabetes.