Main causes of vision impairment and blindness

Measure 1.2.1: The main causes of vision impairment and blindness (vision loss) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, as a proportion of those with vision loss

Most of the vision loss experienced by Indigenous Australians 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 1.2.1: Main causes of vision impairment and blindness

Figures for measure 1.2.1 presents 4 separate charts showing the main causes of vision loss for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians by a variety of characteristics.

Main causes of vision loss for Indigenous Australians, 2016

This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals for the main causes of vision loss among Indigenous participants in the 2016 National Eye Health Survey. The data is presented as a combined scatter plot for the point estimate and Gant chart representing the confidence intervals. The top 3 causes of vision loss were refractive error (61%), cataract (20%) and diabetic retinopathy (5.2%).

Main causes of vision loss for non-Indigenous Australians, 2016

This chart shows weighted point estimates and confidence intervals for the main causes of vision loss among non-Indigenous participants in the 2016 National Eye Health Survey. The data is presented as a combined scatter plot for the point estimate and Gant chart representing the confidence intervals. The top 3 causes of vision loss were refractive error (61%), cataract (13%) and age-related macular degeneration (10%).

Main causes of vision loss for Indigenous Australians by sex, 2016

This stacked vertical bar chart compares the proportion of Indigenous participants with different causes of vision loss in 2016, by sex. The chart shows that the main causes of vision loss for Indigenous males and females were similar, though a higher proportion of Indigenous males had refractive error as a main cause and a higher proportion of Indigenous females had cataracts as a main cause.

Main causes of vision loss for non-Indigenous Australians by sex, 2016

This stacked vertical bar chart compares the proportion of non-Indigenous participants with different causes of vision loss in 2016, by sex. The chart shows that the pattern of causes for males and females was similar for non-Indigenous Australians. Age-related macular degeneration was the third most common cause for non-Indigenous Australians but this was not the case for Indigenous Australians.

  • Results of the 2016 National eye health survey (NEHS) showed that the 3 main causes of vision loss for Indigenous Australians aged 40 and over were refractive error (61%), cataract (20%) and diabetic retinopathy (5.2%).
  • In 2016, a higher proportion of Indigenous and non-Indigenous males had refractive error than Indigenous and non-Indigenous females.