British Association of Retinal Screening - BARS

28/08/2026

Sharing opportunities with the BARS community

BARS is always happy to hear about educational events, webinars, training opportunities, resources and other initiatives that may be useful to professionals working in diabetic eye screening.

Where something is clearly relevant to the DES community and offers genuine educational or professional value, we may be happy to share it through our social media channels.

To keep things fair, requests will be considered from all organisations using the same approach. Sharing content does not represent a formal endorsement by BARS, and we may not be able to promote every request we receive.

If your organisation has something you think would benefit our members, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to consider it.

https://eyescreening.org.uk

24/08/2026

📢 JOB OPPORTUNITIES – DIABETIC EYE SCREENING

There are currently two exciting opportunities being advertised through the BARS website for colleagues working in Diabetic Eye Screening:

👁️ Specialist Grader – NHS Band 6
📍 Humber Diabetic Eye Screening Programme / Hull University Teaching Hospitals
⏰ Full time – 37.5 hours
📅 Applications close 31 August 2026

The role includes slit-lamp biomicroscopy, retinal image and OCT grading, supporting and developing grading staff, and helping the programme maintain national quality standards.

👁️ Diabetic Retinal Screener/Grader – NHS Band 4
📍 County Durham and Darlington
⏰ Full time – 37.5 hours
📅 Applications close 27 August 2026

This role includes retinal photography, OCT imaging and supporting patients through the screening pathway while contributing to the delivery of a safe, effective and high-quality screening service.

🔗 Full details and links to apply for both vacancies are available on the BARS website.

https://eyescreening.org.uk/job-vacancies

Please share with colleagues or anyone in the Diabetic Eye Screening community who may be interested.

31/07/2026

📣 The BARS Chronicle – Volume 15 is out now!

This issue includes:

♿ Improving access to diabetic eye screening for people with learning disabilities

🔬 New research on screening patients aged 80 and over

💼 The launch of the BARS Jobs Board

👁️ An Interesting OCTs feature on MacTel Type 2

🌊 Early details for the BARS Conference 2027 in Brighton

Have a read and share it with your colleagues. https://eyescreening.org.uk/the-bars-chronicle

29/07/2026

👁️ Final places available for our BARS Practical OCT Workshops!

The Middlesbrough workshop is nearly full, with only 8 tickets remaining, while places are also still available for Bristol.

These one-day workshops are designed for professionals working in diabetic eye screening who want to build their confidence in OCT image acquisition and interpretation.

📍 Middlesbrough – Tuesday 8 September 2026
📍 Bristol – Friday 18 September 2026

The day includes:

🔹 Practical OCT interpretation
🔹 Diabetic and non-diabetic OCT features
🔹 Interactive case discussions
🔹 Urgent and routine referral decisions
🔹 Small-group sessions
🔹 Live equipment demonstrations
🔹 Certificate of attendance

🎟️ £75 per person

Invoices can also be provided for NHS programmes requiring a purchase order.

Places are limited, so please book soon to avoid missing out:

🔗 https://eyescreening.org.uk/conference

Please share with any colleagues or teams who may be interested.

15/07/2026

Limited places remaining, don’t miss out!

Our BARS Practical OCT Workshops are now just 6 weeks away, and places are filling up.

If you’re involved in diabetic eye screening and want to build confidence in OCT interpretation, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from experienced faculty in a practical, hands-on environment. The workshops cover OCT image interpretation, retinal layers, diabetic and non-diabetic pathology, referral decisions, live equipment demonstrations and interactive case discussions.

Choose your location:

📍 Middlesbrough – Tuesday 8 September 2026
📍 Bristol – Friday 18 September 2026

✔ Practical workshops
✔ Live OCT demonstrations
✔ Expert speakers
✔ Interactive case discussions
✔ Certificate of attendance

Places are limited, so if you’ve been thinking about booking, now’s the time!

Book your place via the BARS website:
https://eyescreening.org.uk/conference

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with colleagues who may be interested.

01/07/2026

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the BARS Jobs Board!

The BARS website is now advertising vacancies from diabetic eye screening programmes across the UK, making it easier for both employers and job seekers to connect.

If you’re looking for your next opportunity in diabetic eye screening, keep an eye on the Jobs page for the latest vacancies.

For Programme Managers, advertising a vacancy is now simple. Just complete the online job submission form and we’ll publish your advert on the BARS website, helping you reach professionals from across the UK.

Whether you’re recruiting or searching for your next role, we hope this new service becomes a valuable resource for the diabetic eye screening community.

Visit the BARS website to view current vacancies or submit a new advert today.

https://eyescreening.org.uk/job-vacancies

26/06/2026

📅 The BARS Council is meeting today to discuss a wide range of exciting projects and priorities for the year ahead.

As well as final preparations for our upcoming OCT workshops, we’re also starting to plan the BARS Conference 2027, which will be held in Brighton! 🌊

It’s great to see Council members from across the UK coming together to help shape the future of retinal screening education and support for our members.

We’ll be sharing more updates on our workshops, the 2027 conference and other exciting developments over the coming months.

Watch this space! 👀

26/06/2026

☀️ Hot weather can affect blood glucose levels, hydration, and even how your medication works.

If you're living with diabetes, taking a few extra precautions during a heatwave can help you stay safe and well. From keeping medications cool to staying hydrated and monitoring your blood sugar more regularly, small steps can make a big difference.

What are your top tips for managing diabetes in hot weather?
Let us know in the comments 👇

24/06/2026

Bright evening light tied to macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts

In a massive study of more than 80,000 adults, scientists have found a link between bright artificial light in the evenings and age-related eye disease. At the extreme, light exposure was associated with a 31% higher risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as an 18% and 47%…

19/06/2026

🚨 BARS Practical OCT Workshop – Bristol 2026 👁️✨

Tickets are now available for our next BARS Practical OCT Workshop, taking place in Bristol this September.

Whether you’re new to OCT or looking to build confidence in image acquisition and interpretation, this hands-on workshop is designed specifically for professionals working in diabetic eye screening.

📅 Friday 18th September 2026
⏰ 9:00am – 4:00pm
📍 Future Inns Bristol
Bond Street South, Bristol, BS1 3EN

The day will cover:

🔹 Best practice for OCT image acquisition
🔹 Interpretation of OCT scans in diabetic eye disease
🔹 Recognition of common non-DR abnormalities
🔹 Understanding clinically significant findings and referral pathways
🔹 Practical demonstrations and interactive case discussions
🔹 Networking with colleagues from screening programmes across the UK

🎤 Hosted by Mrs Samantha Mann and Miss Daniela Vaideanu-Collins

📄 NHS programmes and hospitals can be invoiced, and Purchase Orders (POs) are accepted.

🎟️ Book your place and find full event details here:
🌐 https://eyescreening.org.uk/conference

👥 Please share with colleagues, graders, screeners, photographers and ophthalmic teams who may be interested.

👁️✨