Eye health

This section provides an overview of eye conditions in Australia.

The major causes of blindness and vision loss in Australia are the age-related degenerative eye diseases, such as cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Other conditions causing significant vision loss are diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, eye injuries, un-corrected or under-corrected refractive error and trachoma, which is present in some remote regions of Australia.

Certain population groups are at particular risk of experiencing avoidable vision loss, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, older people, people with a family history of eye disease, people with diabetes, and marginalised and disadvantaged people.

There are significant health and social costs associated with vision disorders, estimated at $9.85 billion per annum.

More information on eye conditions can be obtained through HealthInsite. This website provides easy access to quality information about health. HealthInsite includes links to resources that explain what eye diseases are, their causes, management, support services and statistics.
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^{Page last reviewed: 25 June 2010}