Digital retinal imaging increases detection of diabetic retinopathy in a hospital‐based eye screening programme

Computerised digital retinal imaging systems may offer an advance for screening programmes set up to detect diabetic retinopathy. The present study examined whether the addition of digital retinal imaging to ophthalmoscopic screening increased the detection of diabetic eye disease, in the context of a routine screening programme in a teaching hospital clinic. A total of 611 consecutive patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus eligible for annual eye screening were randomised either to our current screening process (direct ophthalmoscopy following mydriasis and assessment of visual acuity) or to routine screening with the addition of digital retinal imaging. The addition of a digital retinal image to routine ophthalmoscopic screening increased the detection of background retinopathy (prevalence of background retinopathy 36.1% with digital imaging versus 22.2% without: p<0.01). In the hospital specialist clinic, digital retinal imaging was a useful adjunct to direct ophthalmoscopy in the detection of non‐sight‐threatening diabetic retinal disease.