Rates of infectious eye disease in Indigenous Aussie kids continue to fall

Trachoma prevalence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) children in at-risk communities continues to fall, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The eighth annual report, “Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2024,” shows an 87% decline in the prevalence of active trachoma in children aged five to nine in at-risk communities from 14% in 2007 to 1.8% in 2023.

Trachoma is a highly infectious eye disease that can lead to scarring, in-turned eyelashes on the upper eyelid and blindness if untreated. It was observed in 74 First Nations children from 67 communities screened in 2023.

“Eye diseases and vision problems are the most common long-term health conditions First Nations people experience, with around one-third reporting long-term eye conditions,” said AIHW spokesperson Jo Baker.

“Most of the blindness and vision impairment experienced by First Nations people is caused by conditions that are preventable or can be treated.”

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

“Cataract is the leading cause of blindness among First Nations adults,” said Baker.

More First Nations people have undergone 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 patients before peaking in 2021–22 at 181 days, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022–23, the median waiting time fell to 159 days.

There has 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 from 2012–13 to 2022–23. The proportion of First Nations people who were tested for diabetes and had an eye examination ranged from 55% in the Australian Capital Territory to 34% in Western Australia in 2022–23.

“Monitoring the eye health of First Nations people and their use of eye health services helps us to better understand prevalence, address barriers and see continued improvement,” Baker said.

This release includes eight state and territory in focus reports which act as a tool for each jurisdiction to assess changes in and the adequacy of eye health services for First Nations people. The full report also examines diagnosis and treatment services, the eye health workforce and outreach services among First Nations people.

Provided by
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)