Summary
This is the sixth annual report to update the Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These measures were developed to provide an evidence base to monitor changes in eye health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over time and their use of eye health services. This report includes the latest available data against each measure. Of the 22 measures, with ongoing data collections, 15 have been updated in this report. Table 1 presents a summary of results for key eye health measures. Compared with the last annual report:
- 8 measures or sub-measures appear to be improving
- 8 measures or sub-measures appear to be declining
- 2 sub-measures indicate no change or no clear trend over time
- For 5 measures or sub-measures it cannot be determined whether changes represent an improvement or a decline
- 9 measures or sub-measures have no trend data available.
Summary
Introduction
- Protective and risk factors for eye health problems
- Health protective and risk factors
- Environmental and socioeconomic factors
- Access to services
- Cultural safety
- Wellbeing and quality of life
- Eye health policy context, services and programs
- Australian Government initiatives
- State and territory-based programs and services
- Outreach programs
- Eye health measures and the data sources
- Data disaggregations
- Key data sources
- Calculating population rates
- Indigenous identification
- Regional data
- Needs estimates
- Structure of the report
1. Prevalence – what is the extent of eye health problems?
- Measure 1.1: Prevalence of vision impairment and blindness
- Measure 1.2: Main causes of vision impairment and blindness
- Measure 1.3: Prevalence of trachoma and trichiasis
2. Diagnosis and screening – how are eye health problems identified?
- Measure 2.1.1: Annual health assessments
- Measure 2.1.2: Annual health assessments and initial eye examination by an optometrist
- Measure 2.2: Eye examinations by an eye care professional
- Measure 2.3: Screening for diabetic retinopathy among target population
- Measure 2.4: Trachoma and trichiasis screening coverage
- Measure 2.5: Undiagnosed eye conditions
3. Treatment – how are eye problems treated?
- Measure 3.1: Hospitalisations for diseases of the eye
- Measure 3.2: Hospitalisations for injuries to the eye
- Measure 3.3: Hospitalisations for eye procedures
- Measure 3.4: Cataract surgery rate
- Measure 3.5: Cataract surgical coverage rate
- Measure 3.6: Waiting times for elective cataract surgery
- Measure 3.7: Treated for diabetic retinopathy among target population
- Measure 3.8: Trachoma and trichiasis treatment coverage
- Measure 3.9: Treatment of refractive error
- Measure 3.10: Spectacles dispensed under state schemes
4. Workforce and outreach services
- Measure 4.1: Number and rate of optometrists
- Measure 4.2: Number and rate of ophthalmologists
- Measure 4.3: Number and rate of allied ophthalmic personnel
- Measure 4.4: Occasions of eye health services provided under outreach and other programs
Appendix A: Data sources
- ABS population data
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
- Australian Trachoma Surveillance reports
- Medicare Benefits Schedule data
- National Eye Health Survey
- National Health Workforce Data Set
- National Hospital Morbidity Database
Appendix B: PHN and Roadmap regions
Appendix C: Technical specifications
Appendix D: Data gaps and limitations
- National eye health survey
- Primary health care
- Medicare benefits schedule data
- National Hospital Morbidity Database
- Australian Trachoma Surveillance Report
- Spectacles data
- Workforce data
End matter: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Symbols; Glossary; References.