Travel Insurance for Retinopathy

What is retinopathy?

Retinopathy means that there has been damage to the retina, which is the the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye. It’s grouped with other eye, ear, nose and throat conditions, but it rarely starts in the eye itself. Most often it’s caused by diabetes, when high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. Long-term high blood pressure can cause it as well.

In the early stages there are often no symptoms at all, which is why people with diabetes are invited for regular eye screening. As it progresses, you might notice blurred or patchy vision, or floaters. Treatment such as laser or eye injections can help stop it getting worse. The NHS diabetic retinopathy page explains the stages and treatment.

Why do I need to declare retinopathy for travel insurance?

Retinopathy is a pre-existing medical condition, and we ask about it because it can change suddenly. A bleed in the eye or a detached retina abroad would need urgent specialist care, and a sudden drop in vision before departure could force you to cancel. It’s also usually linked to diabetes or high blood pressure, which carry their own risks. If retinopathy, or the condition behind it, isn’t declared, a related claim could be refused or reduced.

You won’t need to declare every medical condition you’ve ever had or been diagnosed with, only those that fall into the initial set of medical questions.

Can I get travel insurance with retinopathy?

Usually, yes. Because retinopathy usually stems from another condition, the screening looks at the whole picture, including diabetes or high blood pressure if either is behind it. 

What we’ll ask about your retinopathy

Declaring your retinopathy online doesn’t take long. The screening asks about regular checkups, hospital visits, and future treatment options. After that, carry on declaring any other relevant pre-existing medical conditions you have.

Once you’ve finished the medical declaration, you’ll go through to the quote page. If your retinopathy and your other conditions can be covered, you’ll see a list of quotes, and the premium shown includes the cost of cover for your medical. If we can’t provide cover, you’ll know before going any further.

If your health changes before travelling

Eyes can change quickly. If new treatment is booked, your vision suddenly changes, you have a hospital stay, or your diabetes medication changes between now and departure, you must let us know. Your cover might need another look, your medical situation may have to go to the underwriters, and in some cases we may not be able to continue with cover. A future claim can be affected or denied if a change in your medical isn’t reported.

What can retinopathy travel insurance cover?

With retinopathy accepted, emergency treatment abroad for problems linked to it can be covered. If you suddenly lose vision in one eye on a trip to Florida and need emergency assessment and treatment, the medical costs could be met, along with repatriation if you need help getting home. This is always subject to the policy terms, exclusions, limits and excess.

Sometimes the problem shows up before you leave. If your eye specialist books urgent treatment that clashes with your holiday, cancellation cover may let you claim back costs you can’t recover elsewhere.

Routine check-ups or injections you’d planned to have abroad aren’t covered, and nor is anything related to a condition left off your policy.

Will retinopathy affect the cost of travel insurance?

It's unlikely to make a huge difference to the premium on its own. The total figure considers your entire medical declaration, your age, your destination, and how long your trip is. Once you’ve finished the quote, you can check the price before deciding to buy.

Single trip or annual cover with retinopathy

Single trip cover is made for one holiday. Annual cover lasts a year and covers multiple trips, which tends to make sense if you go away more than once. Whether annual cover is available will depend on how your screening goes.

Travelling with retinopathy: practical tips

These are general pointers to help you plan. They’re separate from your insurance cover.

Work your trip around your treatment, not the other way round. If you have injections every few weeks, check with the eye clinic when your next one is due and book your dates to fit. Missing a planned injection can let things slip.

If diabetes is the cause, good sugar control on holiday matters for your eyes as well as everything else. Different food, heat and long days out can all push your levels around, so test more often than usual and carry snacks. Insulin needs protecting from heat, so a cooling wallet is worth packing.

Bright sunshine and glare can be tiring if your vision isn’t what it was. Good sunglasses with UV protection help, and so does a hat with a brim. If you’ve had laser treatment, you might find your night vision or side vision is reduced, so take care on unlit paths and think twice about hiring a car abroad.

Know which symptoms need urgent help. A sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights or a dark curtain across your vision can be signs of bleeding or a detached retina, and they need seeing quickly wherever you are.

1. carry a list of your medicines and a copy of your latest clinic letter
2. pack a spare pair of glasses
3. ask for airport assistance if busy terminals are hard to manage

How to get a quote

Tell us about your trip, answer the screening questions for retinopathy and any linked conditions such as diabetes, then choose your cover. The price is shown before you commit.

Get a Quote