Improved eye health for First Nations people

The rate of trachoma among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children aged 5–9 in at-risk communities has fallen, according to the eighth annual report of Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2024.  

Among First Nations children aged 5–9 in at-risk communities, rates of trachoma fell from 14% in 2007 to 1.8% in 2023, an 87% decline. Trachoma – a highly infectious eye disease – was observed in 74 First Nations children from 67 communities screened in 2023. If untreated, it can lead to scarring, in-turned eyelashes on the upper eyelid and blindness. 

The report also shows notable improvements in other measures of eye health, including annual health assessments, screening for diabetic retinopathy among those tested for diabetes and hospitalisations for cataract surgery.  

More First Nations people underwent cataract surgery in 2022–23 than in 2015–16, with the age-adjusted rate increasing from 7,504 to 9,297 per million.  

Median waiting times for cataract surgery among First Nations patients were 141 days in 2016–17 before peaking at 181 days in 2021–22, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022–23, the median waiting time fell to 159 days. 

There has also been an increase in screening for a complication of diabetes, called diabetic retinopathy, which can result in vision loss if not detected and treated early.  

The age-adjusted rate of eye examinations among First Nations people tested for diabetes increased from 30% to 43% in the past decade. 

Continuous monitoring of the eye health of First Nations people and their use of eye health services helps us to better understand the prevalence and causes of vision loss, blindness and eye disease. Evidence-based insights can be used to address barriers to accessing services and track progress towards improving eye health outcomes for First Nations people.