Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2025: interactive data

Vision loss has a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to perform everyday activities, for example, by limiting opportunities for physical mobility, work, education and social engagement (Razavi et al. 2018). Eye diseases and vision problems are the most common long-term health conditions reported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) Australians, with over one-third of First Nations people self-reporting eye or sight problems (ABS 2018–19).

This report presents data for both First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians for a range of eye health measures across prevalence, diagnosis and screening, treatment services and workforce and outreach programs. Data are presented:

• over time
• by age and sex
• by state and territory
• remoteness areas
• lower-level geographies.

*Analysis of lower-level geographies for all measures is available on the maps page.

Prevalence

• The prevalence of bilateral vision impairment for First Nations people aged 50 and over was 11% and the prevalence of bilateral blindness was 0.4%, based on the latest available National Eye and Ear Health Survey data from 2025 (sample period 2022 to 2025). 
• The 3 leading causes of vision impairment and blindness (vision loss) for First Nations people aged 50 and over in 2022 to 2025 were uncorrected refractive error (38%), cataract (34%) and diabetic retinopathy (15%).
• Repeated trachoma infections can result in scarring, in-turned eyelashes on the upper eyelid (trachomatous trichiasis, referred to as trichiasis in this report) and blindness. The overall prevalence of active trachoma among children aged 5–9 in at-risk communities fell from 15% in 2009 to 1.5% in 2024.

Diagnosis and screening

• Between 2016–17 and 2023–24, the proportion of First Nations Australians who had an annual First Nations health assessment increased from 24% to 27% (based on age-standardised rates).
• In 2023–24, 14% of First Nations people (147,517) had an eye examination by an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
• Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes which can result in vision loss if not detected and treated early. Among First Nations people who had a diabetes test, the age-standardised proportion who were screened for diabetic retinopathy rose from an estimated 36% in 2016–17 to 43% in 2023–24.

Selected screening and diagnosis measures

Time trend data for selected measures are shown below. These include 

• measures related to First Nations Health checks (sub-measures 2.1.1 and 2.1.2) 
• measures related to eye examinations by an eye care professional (measure 2.2)
• measure related to screening for diabetic retinopathy (sub-measures 2.3.1 and 2.3.3).

Treatment

• In 2023–24, the age-standardised cataract surgery rate for First Nations people was 8,849 hospitalisations per 1,000,000 population – an increase of 36% since 2016–17.
• In 2024, trachoma treatment coverage was 54% – that is, 1,674 active cases, household and community contacts received treatment. Treatment coverage for active cases detected in screening activities was 99%. 
• In 2023–24, 21,977 pairs of spectacles were dispensed to First Nations people under state spectacle schemes by New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia (the states and territories able to provide data). Of these, Victoria (3,742 spectacles, 45 per 1,000 population) came closest to meeting the estimated number of spectacles needed among First Nations people (5,302) – with 71% of the population-based need met.

Selected treatment measures

Time trend data for selected key measures are shown below. These include: 

• measures related to hospitalisations for diseases and injuries of the eye (measures 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4)
• measures related to waiting time for elective surgery for procedures of the eye (sub-measures 3.6.1 and 3.6.2)
• measures related to retinal laser treatment for conditions of the eye (sub-measures 3.7.1 and 3.7.2).

Workforce and outreach

• In 2023, 6,275 optometrists were employed in Australia (21 full-time equivalent (FTE) per 100,000 total Australian population). The numbers and rates of optometrists were lowest in Remote and Very remote areas.
• In 2023, 1,004 ophthalmologists were employed in Australia (3.9 FTE per 100,000 total Australian population).
• The number of occasions of service provided under the Visiting Optometrists Scheme – which provides specialist eye health services to First Nations people in mainly regional and remote areas – have fluctuated. Overall services have more than quadrupled between 2009–10 (6,975 occasions of service) and 2023–24 (31,534 occasions of service). 

Selected workforce measures

 Time trend data for selected key measures are shown below. These include: 

• measures relating to general optometry workforce (measures 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) 
• measures relating to outreach programs (sub-measures 4.4.1, 4.4.2 and 4.4.3).

Comparison with non-Indigenous Australians

• Between 2013–14 to 2023–24, the total age-standardised proportion of First Nations people tested for diabetes who had an eye examination increased from 35% to 43%, while for non-Indigenous Australians it rose from 39% to 48%.
• In 2023–24, age-standardised hospitalisation rates for First Nations people for cataract surgery (8,849 per 1,000,000) was higher than for non-Indigenous Australians (9,204 per 1,000,000).