Screening for retinopathy in patients with diabetes can be done safely and more effectively if screening intervals are chosen based on individual risk, UK researchers say.

In the largest trial to date, more than 4300 patients with diabetes but no diagnosed retinopathy were allocated either to usual UK care — annual screening — or care based on an individualised risk assessment.

The risk assessment took into account systemic factors such as HbA1c, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol as well as other factors including the local prevalence of diabetic retinopathy.

The patients were 60% male, 95% Caucasian, and 89% had type 2 diabetes.