Cataract surgery rate
- Measure 3.4
- The number of hospital separations with a procedure for cataract surgery, per 1,000,000 First Nations people.
Hospitalisations reflect both the occurrence in the population of eye conditions which are serious enough to require hospitalisation, as well as access to and use of hospitals services. The cataract surgery rate is calculated per million to align with international standards (Figure 34 and Figure 35).
Figure 34: Cataract surgery rate, 2017–19 and 2019–21
Measure 3.4 The number of hospital separations with a procedure for cataract surgery, per 1,000,000 Indigenous population.
Cataract surgery rate, 2017–19 and 2019–21
Hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery, 2017–19 and 2019–21
This dual axis combined vertical bar chart and scatter plot compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2017–19 and 2019–21. The chart shows that in 2017–19, the number of hospitalisations for cataract surgery was 6,072 (3,660 per 1,000,000) and in 2019–21 the number of hospitalisations was 6,714 (3,894 per 1,000,000 population).
In the 2-year period from 2019–21, there were around 6,700 hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery – a rate of 3,894 per 1,000,000 population. The number of hospitalisations over the 2-year period 2019–21 was below the estimated annual number of First Nations people needing cataract surgery (16,537).
Figure 35: Cataract surgery rate: interactive data
Cataract surgery rate: interactive data
This interactive visualisation shows 6 separate charts Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by various characteristics.
Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and region, 2019–21
This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2019–21, by remoteness category and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for First Nations people were lower than for non-Indigenous Australians in Major cities (7,585 and 8,053 per 1,000,000, respectively) and Inner and outer regional areas combined (7,883 and 8,464 per 1,000,000, respectively) but higher in Remote and very remote areas combined (7,758 and 7,192 per 1,000,000 respectively).
Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and jurisdiction, 2019–21
This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2019–21, by jurisdiction and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for First Nations people were lower than for non-Indigenous in all jurisdictions.
Hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery, by age and sex, 2019–21
This grouped vertical bar chart compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery for First Nations people in 2019–21, by age and sex. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates rose with age for both males and females. Hospitalisation rates were similar for males and females in younger age groups. However, for those aged 55–64 and 65–74 rates were higher for Indigenous females (15,172 and 45,878 per 1,000,000, respectively) than Indigenous males (13,313 and 39,356 per 1,000,000, respectively). For those aged 75 and over rates were higher for Indigenous males (60,706 per 1,000,000) than Indigenous females (52,404 per 1,000,000).
Hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery, by PHN, 2019–21 (bar chart)
This horizontal bar chart compares the hospitalisation rate for cataract surgery for First Nations people in 2019–21, by PHN, grouped by state. The chart shows that the PHNs with the lowest hospitalisation rates for First Nations people for cataract surgery were Western Sydney, the Australian Capital Territory and Nepean Blue Mountains (NSW) (all under 2,400 per 1,000,000). The PHNs with the highest hospitalisation rates for First Nations people were Western Queensland (Qld), Murrumbidgee (NSW) and Country WA (all over 5,200 per 1,000,000).
Hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery, by roadmap region, 2019–21 (bar chart)
This horizontal bar chart compares the hospitalisation rate for cataract surgery for First Nations people in 2019–21, by roadmap region, grouped by state. The chart also shows estimated need for cataract surgery. For all roadmap regions estimated need is greater than number of hospitalisations.
- In 2020–21, the age-specific rate of hospitalisations was higher for First Nations people aged 45–54 and 55–64 than for non-Indigenous Australians of the same age. However, at older ages, age-specific rates were higher for non-Indigenous Australians than First Nations people.
- Between 2013–14 and 2020–21, the age-standardised rate for cataract surgery for First Nations people increased from 6,462 to 8,130 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19 and then dropped to 6,884 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20 before increasing to 8,691 in 2020–21, while the rate for non-Indigenous Australians increased from 8,631 to 8,747 in 2018–19 and then dropped to 7,423 per 1,000,000 in 2019–20 before increasing to 8,944 in 2020–21.