Prevalence of vision impairment and blindness
- Measure 1.1.1
- The proportion of First Nations people with vision impairment and blindness (vision loss).
Most of the vision loss experienced by First Nations people is potentially preventable. Measures of the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness are important for monitoring changes in eye health over time and identifying the need for services (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
Figure 1: Prevalence of vision impairment and blindness, 2016
The chart for this measure shows the estimated percentage of patients with vision loss and confidence intervals for these estimates, by Indigenous status. The data is presented as a combined scatter plot for the point estimate and Gant chart representing the confidence interval. The chart is filtered by vision loss type comprising blindness, vision impairment and total visions loss.
Blindness by Indigenous status, 2016
This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals for blindness in 2016 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It shows that rates of blindness were higher for Indigenous Australians (0.3%) than for non-Indigenous Australians (0.2%).
Vision impairment by Indigenous status, 2016
This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals for vision impairment in 2016 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It shows that rates of vision impairment were higher for Indigenous Australians (10.4%) than for non-Indigenous Australians (6.2%).
Vision loss by Indigenous status, 2016
This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals for vision loss in 2016 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It shows that rates of vision loss were higher for Indigenous Australians (10.7%) than for non-Indigenous Australians (6.3%).
1 in 10 First Nations people aged 40 or over suffer from vision loss.
Figure 2: Prevalence of vision impairment and blindness: interactive data
Prevalence of vision impairment and blindness, 2016: interactive data
This interactive data visualisation shows 2 separate charts showing the estimated percentage of patients with vision loss and confidence intervals for these estimates, by Indigenous status and other various characteristics. The data is presented as a combined scatter plot for the point estimate and Gant chart representing the confidence interval.
Vision loss by Indigenous status and age and sex, 2016
This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals of the prevalence of vision loss in 2016 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The chart can be filtered by age group and sex.
It shows that the prevalence of vision impairment for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous survey participants increased markedly with age. For Indigenous Australians, the prevalence of vision impairment was 7.2% among those aged 40–49 years, compared with 56% among those aged 80 and over. Indigenous rates were higher than non-Indigenous rates for all age groups, particularly for the oldest age groups. The chart shows that there was no significant difference between Indigenous males and female in the rates of vision impairment.
Vision loss by Indigenous status and region, 2016
This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals of the prevalence of vision loss in 2016 for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, by remoteness of geographic location. The chart shows that the age-standardised prevalence of vision loss for First Nations peoplein Outer regional and Very remote areas was significantly higher than in Major cities.
- Based on 2016 NEHS (National Eye Health Survey) results, First Nations people experienced more vision impairment, blindness and vision loss than non-Indigenous Australians.
- The prevalence of vision loss increases markedly with age. For First Nations people, the prevalence of vision loss was 7% among those aged 40–49, compared with 56% among those aged 80 to 89.
- There was no significant difference between First Nations males and females in the rates of vision loss.
- The age-standardised prevalence of vision loss for First Nations people in Outer regional and Very remote areas was significantly higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.