Self-reported causes of eye or sight problems

Measure 1.2.2: The main causes of eye or sight problems for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, as a proportion of those with eye or sight problems.

Data for this measure are self-reported and have not necessarily been diagnosed by a health professional. They do not include eye conditions that respondents are unaware that they have.

Figure 1.2.2: Self-reported causes of eye or sight problems

Figures for measure 1.2.2 presents 2 separate charts showing the main causes of vision loss by a variety of characteristics.

Prevalence of eye/sight problems amongst Indigenous Australians by main cause and sex, 2018–19

This grouped horizontal bar chart compares the main causes of sight problems for Indigenous Australians in 2018–19, by sex. The chart shows that the top 3 causes of sight problems reported by Indigenous Australians were long sightedness (22%), short sightedness (16%) and cataract (1.4%). The prevalence of long-sightedness was higher for Indigenous females than Indigenous males (25% and 18%, respectively).

Prevalence of eye/sight problems by Indigenous status and main cause, 2018–19

This grouped horizontal bar chart compares the main causes of sight problems in 2018–19, by Indigenous status. The chart shows that Indigenous Australians were over twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to report blindness, and almost twice as likely to report having a cataract as causes of sight problems, based on age-standardised rates.

  • In 2018–19, the main causes of sight problems reported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were long-sightedness (31%), short-sightedness (20%), and cataract (2.4%).
  • The prevalence of long-sightedness and short-sightedness was higher for Indigenous females (25% and 20%, respectively) than for Indigenous males (18% and 11%, respectively).
  • Adjusting for age, Indigenous Australians were more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to report blindness (2.4 times as likely) or having a cataract (1.7 times as likely) as a cause of sight problems.