The number and proportion of First Nations people who had an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the last 12 months: Measure 2.2
Eye care professionals play an important role in screening for eye and vision problems by conducting basic eye examinations (Figure 17 and Figure 18). Current data provides an incomplete picture of the extent of First Nations eye health services. For example, data do not capture many of the ophthalmological services – such as eye examinations undertaken by salaried ophthalmologists in public hospitals.
Latest data
In 2023–24, 147,517 First Nations people had an initial eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the preceding 12 months–14% of the population (Figure 17). Optometrists conducted 147,400 of these examinations, and ophthalmologists 117.
Figure 17: Eye examinations by an eye care professional, 2023–24
Two barcharts showing number and rates for 2022-23 and 2023-24. See link to data tables at the bottom of this page for details.
Notes
- People who had an eye exam are those who made a claim for MBS item 10900, 10910–10916, 11215 or 11218 within the financial year.
- Medicare data presented by Indigenous status have been adjusted for the under-identification in the Medicare Voluntary Indigenous Identifier (VII) database.
- MBS data do not cover services provided in the public health system.
- Data are based on date of service.
Source: AIHW analysis of Medical Benefits Schedule data.
Explore more aspects of the data in the following section. See also Figure 18.
By remoteness
In 2023–24, the proportion of First Nations people who had an eye examination in the preceding 12 months decreased with remoteness, with the lowest proportion being for those living in Very remote areas (7.6%) (Figure 18 – remoteness).
By jurisdiction
In 2023–24, the proportion of First Nations people who had an eye examination in the preceding 12 months ranged from 8.3% in the Northern Territory to 18.2% in the Australian Capital Territory (Figure18 – jurisdiction).
Time trend
Age-specific rates of eye examinations by an optometrist or ophthalmologist in the preceding 12 months rose slightly between 2016–17 and 2023–24 for First Nations people, apart from those aged 65 and over where rates fell slightly. Age-specific rates rose for non-Indigenous Australians between 2016–17 and 2023–24 across all age. Across all age groups, rates of eye examinations were higher for non-Indigenous Australians than for First Nations people in the same age group.
Between 2016–17 and 2023–24, the total age-standardised proportion of the First Nations population who had an eye examination was relatively stable, around 19% (Figure 18 – time trend).
Figure 18: Eye examinations by an eye care professional: interactive data
See link to data tables following this image.
Downloadable data tables are available on Data.