What does a retinopathy scan pick up that isn't retinopathy?

[UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername]

I had my annual diabetic retinopathy scan a few weeks ago and today I got a letter saying that there are no changes due to retinopathy, but there are changes that are not due to diabetes. I've been referred to an ophthalmology clinic.

Does anyone have any idea what they might have seen?

I rang their helpline and apparently it was a non-urgent referral, so they have 13 to 18 weeks to write to me. Someone with medical knowledge is going to ring me in the next couple of days with more information.

So apparently it's something to do with changes to my optic nerve, and more thorough tests are needed. Still a bit vague. I've rung our local ophthalmic optician to ask if they have any testing capabilities that could help; I know they have a retinal scanner and some more complex stuff. They're going to ring me back.

My brain is well aware that panicking is unjustified and unhelpful but my body didnt get the memo!

It will have just picked up another ocular or systemic condition which has signs in the retina - there are about 100 different ones.

some diabetic screening picks up things like cataracts.

The fact that it's an optic nerve issue narrows it down, though, right?

Loads of things! It picked up my mum's cataract that she already knew about, but like yours the letter was couched in language where they wouldn't say that.

So she spent ages freaking out until she found out.

I think I can definitely rule out a cataract.

Hiya - did you ever get any more info on this? I've got an optic nerve issue apparently, waiting for a neuro ophthalmology appointment - thats all I know

So I had an OTC scan a few days after my last post. The ophthalmologist said she couldn't see anything problematic, except that my optic discs were small.

No sign of an appointment letter from the hospital I was referred to; just a letter asking if I wanted to stay on the waiting list. I said yes.

This morning I was chatting to my GP about the whole thing and she had a look on my file there; the retinopathy people had sent out a letter to them months ago saying I had glaucoma in my left eye.

I'm so confused. Would glaucoma show up on a retina scan but not an OTC scan?

My DH had this- the optician said she saw some changes indicating glaucoma and he’s been referred to the ophthalmologist. We are just waiting on an appointment.
it’s possible that the optician’s concerns were recorded glaucoma on your file from the referral letter? I wouldn’t worry if the opthamologist didn’t have any concerns.

The mention of glaucoma was on the letter the diabetic retinopathy screening service sent to my GP, at the time they sent the referral to the hospital.

The opthalmologist did say to go to the appointment when I get it. It's hard not to worry!

Yeah I hear you- it’s a worry but from what I gather glaucoma is very manageable these days even in the worst case scenario