Welcome!

Welcome to the County Durham and Darlington Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) section. We provide free eye screening for everybody living with diabetes (from the age of 12) within our catchment area. We offer a very quick and simple appointment, which takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes. It involves having drops put into both eyes and taking a digital photograph of the back of the eyes which enables the clinician to have a more detailed look and detect any signs of diabetic retinopathy. 

Diabetes is no longer the leading cause of blindness, since the introduction of eye screening.  Diabetic retinopathy can now be prevented.   

Diabetic Retinopathy can affect anyone who is living with diabetes and can occur by having uncontrolled high blood sugar levels (HbA1c) over a prolonged period, this can weaken and damage the tiny blood vessels inside a part of the eye called the retina, making them become blocked and bulge, leak fluid or bleed, if left untreated it will cause vision loss or even blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy does not usually affect your vision until it has reached an advanced stage. Therefore early detection, diagnoses and treatment from eye screening is crucial to keeping your eyes healthy, in addition, looking after your vision and preventing sight loss - this is why attending your recommended eye screening appointment is so important and an essential part of your diabetes care package.

Our team

Our team consists of a dedicated programme manager, a clinical lead ophthalmologist, an optometrist, 2 advanced screeners/graders, 7 retinal screeners/graders, 2 screeners, 3 administrative staff and 1 failsafe officer, who together all play a vital part and work extremely hard to ensure we provide a friendly, effective and efficient service for our patients. 

We are very passionate about the fantastic service we provide and work hard to highlight the importance for anyone living with diabetes, to attend their recommended eye screening appointments.

Awareness within our communities

Some of the things we have done to raise awareness in our local communities includes:

  • ITV News interview with our programme manager, clinical lead and senior grader (link)
  • Bus campaign in Durham which was featured in the newspaper (link)
  • Various school and college visits
  • Promotional events including the MELISSA Bus (Mobile Educations Learning, Improving Simulation and Safety Activities) (link)
  • Making a video for patients to understand the diabetic eye screening appointment journey (link)
  • Creating various posters to help promote the importance of eye screening
  • Taking part in sponsored walks; trekking the Catbells in the Lake District 2024 all proceeds raised, went to the InDependent diabetes trust. Each member of the DESP team walked 100 miles in September 2025 and completed a sponsored walk at Ingleton Waterfall Trail.

How did we do?

We would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to visit our dedicated DESP section and we hope you find it informative and helpful. 

Please don’t forget to share your thoughts and feedback on the service we provide!