Concierge medical retina · UK
Diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema, treated by a medical retina consultant.
Modern OCT-led assessment, anti-VEGF injections, laser and, where needed, vitrectomy — arranged with a named ophthalmologist who specialises in diabetic eye disease.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A medical retina consultant, not a generalist
Diabetic eye disease is managed by an ophthalmologist with a medical retina fellowship — OCT-led decisions, not one-size-fits-all.
- 02
A proper anti-VEGF injection service
Aflibercept, ranibizumab, faricimab or brolucizumab — in a clean-room injection suite, on a treat-and-extend regimen that fits your eye.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private diabetic eye treatment costs.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A consultation with OCT: £300–£550; each anti-VEGF injection: £900–£1,800.
| Service | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical retina consultation + OCT | £300–£550 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| OCT angiography (OCT-A) add-on | £150–£300 | 15 min | Same visit |
| Fluorescein angiography (FFA) | £350–£600 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Intravitreal anti-VEGF injection (per eye, per dose) | £900–£1,800 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex, per eye) | £1,500–£2,400 | 20 min | Same visit |
| Pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) — full course | £1,200–£2,500 | 1–3 sittings | Over 4–8 weeks |
| Focal / grid macular laser (per eye) | £600–£1,200 | 30 min | Same visit |
| Pars plana vitrectomy (per eye) | £5,500–£9,500 | Day case | Same day home |
Prices vary by clinic, by which drug is used, by whether one or both eyes are treated, and by insurer arrangements. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right imaging, the right drug, the right interval.
Diabetic eye disease is where waiting lists cost sight. OCT-led decisions, on-time injections and a coherent treat-and-extend plan are what actually protect vision — and what is easiest to lose in a stretched system.
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Screening result you cannot decode?
R2, M1, U — we translate the DESP letter into what it means for your vision and what happens next.
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Injection interval slipping?
Late injections let fluid come back. We stabilise your treat-and-extend regimen with a named consultant.
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PDR or vitreous haemorrhage?
High-risk cases need PRP or vitrectomy with a vitreoretinal surgeon — we arrange it in days, not months.
The journey
From screening to treat-and-extend — what happens, in order.
One medical retina consultant from first OCT to ongoing review — with the DESP pathway kept in the loop.
Phase 1 · Before your appointment
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
Imaging, plan, first treatment
Phase 3 · After
Treat-and-extend review
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Type of diabetes, HbA1c if you know it, DESP screening result, any change in vision.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right medical retina consultant, whether OCT and OCT-A are needed first, an indicative price.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Dilating drops mean no driving afterwards — you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Assessment at the clinic
Visual acuity, dilated fundus exam, wide-field colour fundus photography, OCT for the macula, OCT angiography if needed.
- 05
On the day
The treatment plan
The consultant grades your retinopathy and DMO, discusses anti-VEGF, steroid implant, PRP or focal laser, and books the first treatment.
- 06
On the day
First injection or laser
Intravitreal injection in a sterile suite takes a few minutes. PRP laser is done in clinic in one to three sittings.
- 07
After
Treat-and-extend or PRN review
OCT at four to eight weeks drives the next decision — extend, maintain, or switch. Most eyes need ongoing injections for years.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to first treatment. Loading course: 4–6 injections, then treat-and-extend.
When it helps
When treatment for diabetic eye disease is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means eye A&E rather than an appointment.
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Centre-involving DMO with reduced vision
Diabetic macular oedema affecting the fovea with reduced acuity — the classic indication for anti-VEGF injections.
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Severe non-proliferative retinopathy
Widespread microaneurysms, dot-blot haemorrhages and venous beading — close monitoring, sometimes early anti-VEGF.
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Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
New vessels at the disc or elsewhere on the retina — high-risk PDR needs pan-retinal photocoagulation, often with anti-VEGF cover.
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Vitreous haemorrhage
A sudden shower of floaters or dark curtain — bleeding from fragile new vessels, sometimes needing vitrectomy.
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Refractory or pseudophakic DMO
Oedema that persists after anti-VEGF, or in eyes that already have a lens implant — often a good case for a steroid implant.
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Non-centre-involving DMO
Thickening away from the fovea — often watched or treated with focal / grid macular laser rather than injections.
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Missed DESP screening
Missed one or more NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme appointments — a private baseline with OCT catches what a photo alone misses.
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Red flag: sudden vision loss
A sudden drop in vision, a dark shadow, or a curtain across the eye is not for a clinic waiting list — same-day eye A&E.
Treatment options
Anti-VEGF is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves — and which fits which stage of disease.
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Anti-VEGF injections
Aflibercept (Eylea), ranibizumab (Lucentis), faricimab (Vabysmo), brolucizumab (Beovu), or bevacizumab (Avastin, off-label) — the standard of care for centre-involving DMO with reduced vision.
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Intravitreal steroid implant
Dexamethasone (Ozurdex, 3–6 months) or fluocinolone acetonide (Iluvien, up to 3 years) — useful for refractory or pseudophakic DMO where injection burden is a problem.
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Pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP)
A dense pattern of laser burns across the peripheral retina, delivered in one to three sittings — the definitive treatment for high-risk PDR.
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Focal / grid macular laser
Targeted laser to leaking microaneurysms or a grid across a thickened area — used for non-centre-involving DMO and, occasionally, alongside injections.
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Pars plana vitrectomy
Day-case keyhole surgery for a non-clearing vitreous haemorrhage or a tractional retinal detachment threatening the macula. Done by a vitreoretinal surgeon.
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Treat-and-extend regimen
Loading doses of anti-VEGF, then intervals gradually extended based on OCT — the modern way to minimise injection burden without losing vision.
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Systemic optimisation
HbA1c, blood pressure, lipids, renal function and pregnancy planning all shift the pace of retinopathy. We loop in your diabetes team where it matters.
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Consultation only
An honest baseline — grading of your retinopathy, whether treatment is needed now, and a plan you can take back to the NHS if you prefer.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of medical retina consultants, we picked them.
Consultant ophthalmologists with a medical retina fellowship, across central, north, west and south London and the major regional cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every ophthalmologist in our network.
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Consultant ophthalmologists with a medical retina fellowship
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On-site OCT and OCT angiography, wide-field fundus photography
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Clean-room intravitreal injection suite meeting Royal College standards
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Vitreoretinal surgeon available for vitrectomy and tractional detachment
Safety and red flags
What to expect from treatment — honestly.
Intravitreal injections, laser and vitrectomy are established, well-studied treatments. The things worth planning are the drug choice, the follow-up interval, and the red flags that mean same-day care.
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Injections are quick and well-tolerated
The eye is numbed and cleaned; the injection itself takes seconds. Gritty sensation and a small subconjunctival bleed for a day or two is normal.
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Endophthalmitis is rare but urgent
Roughly one in 3,000 injections. Sudden pain, redness or drop in vision in the days after an injection is a same-day emergency, not something to sit on.
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Steroids raise intraocular pressure
Ozurdex and Iluvien can push the pressure up, especially in steroid responders. IOP is checked at every review and treated early.
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Steroids accelerate cataract
In a phakic eye, a steroid implant usually brings forward a cataract. Not a disaster — cataract surgery is straightforward — but worth planning for.
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PRP costs a little peripheral vision
The trade for stopping proliferative disease is some loss of night vision and side vision. Central vision is protected, which is the point.
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Treatment is a course, not a one-off
Most eyes with DMO need injections for years. Treat-and-extend keeps the burden as low as the eye allows, but stopping abruptly usually means the fluid comes back.
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Screening is not optional
The NHS Diabetic Eye Screening Programme catches disease before you feel it. If you have missed screening, we bring you back onto the pathway.
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Pregnancy can accelerate disease
Diabetic retinopathy can progress rapidly in pregnancy — planned pre-conception review and closer monitoring throughout matter.
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Red flags
A sudden shower of floaters, a dark curtain, sudden vision loss, or a painful red eye after an injection — same-day eye A&E, not a clinic booking.
Reading your clinic letter
Your clinic letter in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever treatment was given, the letter the ophthalmologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Ophthalmology language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the letter before your next review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Grading of retinopathy and DMO
Right and left eye graded separately: NPDR (mild, moderate, severe) or PDR, and whether DMO is centre-involving or non-centre-involving.
- 02 Imaging
OCT, OCT-A and fundus findings
Central macular thickness on OCT, any intraretinal fluid or cysts, the pattern of non-perfusion on OCT-A, and where the new vessels or haemorrhages sit.
- 03 Plan
Treatment and interval
Which drug or laser, which eye, the loading schedule, and the review interval — usually four to eight weeks at the start, extending later.
- 04 Impression
What it means and what to watch for
Read this first: how urgent it is, what to expect from treatment, and the red flags that mean same-day care rather than the next appointment.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most private medical insurers cover diabetic eye treatment where medically indicated, subject to policy limits on injection courses. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about diabetic eye disease.
Quick answers on assessment, anti-VEGF, laser, steroid implants and cost.
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What is diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema?
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the small blood vessels of the retina caused by long-standing diabetes. Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is fluid leaking into the macula — the central part of the retina — which blurs the vision you use to read and drive. Both are the leading cause of preventable sight loss in working-age adults in the UK.
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How is diabetic eye disease assessed?
Visual acuity, a dilated fundus examination and wide-field colour fundus photography grade the retinopathy. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures macular thickness and detects DMO. OCT angiography maps the microvascular pattern non-invasively. Fluorescein angiography is used selectively when leakage or non-perfusion needs to be pinned down.
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What are anti-VEGF injections and how well do they work?
Anti-VEGF drugs — aflibercept (Eylea), ranibizumab (Lucentis), faricimab (Vabysmo), brolucizumab (Beovu) and bevacizumab (Avastin, off-label) — block the growth factor that drives leakage and new vessels. For centre-involving DMO with reduced vision, they are the standard of care and, across the DRCR.net trials, restore or preserve vision in the majority of eyes when given on time.
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How often will I need injections?
A typical loading course is four to six monthly injections, then a treat-and-extend regimen guided by OCT — intervals stretch to eight, ten or twelve weeks if the eye stays dry. Many eyes need ongoing injections for years; some can be spaced out to twice-yearly or paused.
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When is a steroid implant used instead of anti-VEGF?
Dexamethasone (Ozurdex) or fluocinolone (Iluvien) implants are considered for DMO that has not responded fully to anti-VEGF, in eyes that already have a lens implant (pseudophakic), or when the injection burden of monthly anti-VEGF is not workable. They raise the risk of cataract and higher eye pressure, both of which are managed.
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When do I need pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP)?
PRP is the definitive treatment for high-risk proliferative diabetic retinopathy — new vessels at or near the disc, or new vessels elsewhere with vitreous haemorrhage. It is often combined with anti-VEGF to shrink vessels before laser. Focal or grid laser is a different, gentler treatment used for non-centre-involving DMO.
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How much does private diabetic eye treatment cost in the UK?
Roughly £300–£550 for a consultation with OCT, £900–£1,800 per anti-VEGF injection, £1,500–£2,400 for an Ozurdex implant, £1,200–£2,500 for a PRP course, and £5,500–£9,500 for vitrectomy. Most private medical insurers cover diabetic eye treatment where medically indicated — we confirm cover before you commit.
Related
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Diabetic retinopathy
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Type 2 diabetes
The underlying condition: assessment and management.
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Diabetes treatments
Modern medical management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
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All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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