Cataract surgery rate

Measure 3.4: The number of hospital separations with a procedure for cataract surgery, per 1,000,000 Indigenous population.

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.

There are 12 separate charts for this measure showing hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, by various characteristics.

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by PHN, 2017–19 (map)

This map of Australia compares the hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, in 2017–19 by PHN. The rates for each PHN are grouped into 5 categories, ranging from ≤1,594 (per 1,000,000 population) in the lowest category to 4,994-7,749 (per 1,000,000 population) in the highest category.

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by PHN, 2017–19 (bar chart)

This horizontal bar chart compares the hospitalisation rate for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians in 2017–19, by PHN, grouped by state. The chart shows that the PHNs with the lowest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery were Western Sydney, Northern Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains (NSW) (all under 1,200 per 1,000,000). The PHNs with the highest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were Western Queensland (Qld), North Coast (NSW) and Hunter New England and Central Coast (NSW) (all over 4,900 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by Indigenous region (IREG), 2017–19 (map)

This map of Australia compares the hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, in 2017–19 by Indigenous region (IREG). The rates for each IREG are grouped into 5 categories, ranging from ≤1,742 (per 1,000,000 population) in the lowest category to 6,027–7,544 (per 1,000,000 population) in the highest category. The map shows that the IREGs with the lowest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery were the ACT and Sydney-Wollongong (under 1,800 per 1,000,000). The IREGs with the highest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were Mount Isa (Qld) and North-Eastern NSW (both over 6,800 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by SA3, 2017–19 (map)

This map of Australia compares the hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, in 2017–19 by SA3. The rates for each SA3 are grouped into 5 categories, ranging from ≤2,227 (per 1,000,000 population) in the lowest category to 11,347–21,791 (per 1,000,000 population) in the highest category. The map shows that the SA3s with the lowest publishable hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery were Mount Druitt (NSW) and Penrith (NSW) (both less than 575 per 1,000,000). The SA3s with the highest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were Norwood-Payneham-St Peters, Loddon-Elmore and Burnside (over 20,000 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by roadmap region, 2017–19 (map)

This map of Australia compares the hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, in 2017–19 by roadmap region. The rates for each roadmap region are grouped into 5 categories, ranging from ≤1,861 (per 1,000,000 population) in the lowest category to 5,859–8,761 (per 1,000,000 population) in the highest category. The map shows that the roadmap regions with the lowest publishable hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery were Western Metropolitan Sydney, Northern Metropolitan Sydney and North West (Tas) (all under 1,500 per 1,000,000). The roadmap regions with the highest hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were South West Queensland, North West Queensland and Central Tablelands (NSW) (all over 7,200 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, 2015–17 and 2017–19

This vertical bar chart compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2015–17 and 2017–19. The chart shows that in 2015–17, the number of hospitalisations for cataract surgery was 5,083 (3,183 per 1,000,000) and in 2017–19 the number of hospitalisations was 6,072 (3,655 per 1,000,000 population).

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status, 2011–12 to 2018–19

This line graph shows, age-standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2011–12 to 2018–19, by Indigenous status. Rates increased for Indigenous Australians from 5,964 per 1,000,000 in 2011–12 to 8,519 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19. Rates did not increase as much for non-Indigenous Australians over this period: from 8,654 per 1,000,000 to 9,102 per 1,000,000. 

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age, 2011–12 to 2018–19

This line graph shows, Indigenous hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2011–12 to 2018–19, by age. In general, the rates rose over time across all age groups.  Among those aged 65–74, the crude rate rose from 31,104 per 1,000,000 in 2011–12 to 42,438 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19. Among those aged 75 and over, the rate rose from 39,208 per 1,000,000 in 2011–12 to 58,243 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19.

Hospitalisations for non-Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age, 2011–12 to 2018–19

This line graph shows, non-Indigenous hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery, from 2011–12 to 2018–19, by age. Among those aged 65–74, the crude rate rose from 40,981 per 1,000,000 in 2011–12 to 46,931 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19. Among those aged 75 and over, the rate declined from 69,298 per 1,000,000 in 2011–12 to 66,635 per 1,000,000 in 2018–19.

Hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery, by age and sex, 2017–19

This grouped vertical bar chart compares hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians in 2017–19, 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 (15,386 and 43,151 per 1,000,000, respectively) than Indigenous males (13,580 and 37,926 per 1,000,000, respectively). For those aged 75 and over rates were higher for Indigenous males (60,409 per 1,000,000) than Indigenous females (54,588 per 1,000,000).

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and region, 2017–19

This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2017–19, by remoteness category and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were lower than for non-Indigenous Australians in Major cities (6,285 and 8,528 per 1,000,000, respectively) and Inner and outer regional areas combined (8,058 and 9,257 per 1,000,000, respectively) but higher in Remote and very remote areas combined (9,012 and 7,751 per 1,000,000 respectively).

Hospitalisations for cataract surgery, by Indigenous status and jurisdiction, 2017–19

This grouped vertical bar chart compares age standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery in 2017–19, by jurisdiction and Indigenous status. The chart shows that hospitalisation rates for Indigenous Australians were lower than for non-Indigenous in all jurisdictions except South Australia and the ACT.

  • In the 2 year period from 2017–19, there were around 6,100 hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery—a rate of 3,655 per 1,000,000 population. The number of hospitalisations over the 2 year period 2017–19 was below the estimated annual number of Indigenous people needing cataract surgery (14,243).
  • In 2018–19, the age-specific rate of hospitalisations was higher for Indigenous Australians 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 Indigenous Australians.
  • Between 2011–12 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate for cataract surgery for Indigenous Australians increased from 5,964 to 8,519 per 1,000,000, while the rate for non-Indigenous Australians increased from 8,654 to 9,102 per 1,000,000.
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