Eye problems accounted for nearly 250,000 (or 1 in 30)
hospitalisations in 2005-06, according to a report released today
by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
'Around 70% of these hospitalisations were for lens surgery such
as cataract removal, and many were same-day procedures,' said
Robert Van der Hoek of the Institute's Population Health Unit.
The AIHW report, Eye health in Australia: a hospital
perspective, shows that the rate of hospitalisations for eye
problems rose marginally between 2001-02 and 2005-06.
The total public hospital cost for treating eye problems in
2005-06 was nearly $233 million. For private hospitals the cost was
an estimated $220 million.
The report also found the rate of hospitalisations for eye
problems among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples was
similar to the total Australian population.
'Hospitalisation rates for cataract were lower among Indigenous
Australians, but eye-related injuries were higher,' said Mr Van der
Hoek.
'The median waiting time for elective eye surgery in a public
hospital was 69 days, which was the longest of any specialty,' he
said.
This report is the first in a series of national reports
providing an overview of eye health in Australia.
Thursday 21 August 2008
Further information: Robert Van der Hoek, AIHW
02 6244 1133.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Eye health in Australia:
a hospital perspective.