Indigenous eye health measures 2018

Measure 1.2.1: The main causes of vision impairment and blindness (vision loss) for Indigenous Australians, as a proportion of those with vision loss.

Most of the vision loss experienced by Indigenous Australians is potentially preventable. Measures of the causes of vision impairment and blindness are important for monitoring changes in eye health over time and identifying the types of interventions required.

• Among Indigenous Australians with vision loss, the main causes were refractive error (61%), cataract (20%) and diabetic retinopathy (5.5%).
• For non-Indigenous Australians with vision loss, the main causes were refractive error (also 61%), cataract (13%) and macular degeneration (10%).