The roadmap to close the gap for vision

Ensuring equitable access to eye care for Indigenous Australians requires multiple small changes

Indigenous Australians have six times more blindness than the national average, and 94% of the vision loss is preventable with eye examinations and timely access to treatment.1 There remain gaps in service delivery, and a shortage of specialist services in remote areas and poor utilisation of eye services in urban areas contribute to the disparity.2 Moreover, 35% of Indigenous adults have never had an eye examination. Only 20% of Indigenous people with diabetes have the requisite annual eye examination.3 Although much basic eye care is provided within primary health care, referrals to specialist services to treat complex eye issues and links to hospitals for cataract surgery need to be developed.