Diagnostic Tests for Diabetic Retinopathy

Diagnostic Test list for Diabetic Retinopathy: The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy includes:

Ordinary doctor eye exam - not fully adequate; may not detect non-advanced cases.
Dilated eye exam - best performed by eye specialist
Eye test (vision test) - not useful; only detects very advanced cases of retinopathy.
Dye test (fluorescein angiogram) - This is a special eye that that shows retinal circulation.
Amsler grid - A special test that helps you identify what parts of your visual field are damaged.
Slit lamp examination - Often done as part of a dilated eye exam. This test examines front or back of eye.
Color Fundus Photography exam (dilated) - A form of photography of the retina.
Eye ultrasound test (ultrasonography) - A rarely used test that is mainly used when there is a vitreous hemorrhage or cataract that makes a visual dilated eye checkup not possible.
Non-mydriatic camera - A new form of retinal examination for retinopathy that does not require pupil dilation. Not widely available yet.

Tests and diagnosis discussion for Diabetic Retinopathy: Have an eye doctor examine your eyes once a year. Have this exam even if your vision is OK. The eye doctor will use drops to make the black part of your eyes (pupils) bigger. This is called dilating (DY-lay-ting) your pupil, which allows the doctor to see your retina. Finding eye problems early and getting treatment right away will help prevent more serious problems later on. ¹

If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes examined at least once a year. Your eyes should be dilated during the exam. That means eyedrops are used to enlarge your pupils. This allows the eye care professional to see more of the inside of your eyes to check for signs of the disease.²

Diabetic retinopathy is detected during an eye examination that includes:

Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

Pupil dilation: The eye care professional places drops into the eye to widen the pupil. This allows him or her to see more of the retina and look for signs of diabetic retinopathy. After the examination, close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

Ophthalmoscopy:This is an examination of the retina in which the eye care professional: (1) looks through a device with a special magnifying lens that provides a narrow view of the retina, or (2) wearing a headset with a bright light, looks through a special magnifying glass and gains a wide view of the retina.

Tonometry: A standard test that determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. Elevated pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma, another common eye problem in people with diabetes.

Your eye care professional will look at your retina for early signs of the disease, such as: (1) leaking blood vessels, (2) retinal swelling, such as macular edema, (3) pale, fatty deposits on the retina--signs of leaking blood vessels, (4) damaged nerve tissue, and (5) any changes in the blood vessels.

Should your doctor suspect that you need treatment for macular edema, he or she may ask you to have a test called fluorescein angiography.

In this test, a special dye is injected into your arm. Pictures are then taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in the retina. This test allows your doctor to find the leaking blood vessels.³

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Keep your eyes healthy: NIDDK
2. excerpt from Are You at Risk for Diabetic Eye Disease: NEI
3. excerpt from Facts About Diabetic Retinopathy: NEI

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