The prevalence of visually significant cataract in the Australian National Eye Health Survey
February 2019
The article, The prevalence of visually significant cataract in the Australian National Eye Health Survey, published in Eye in February 2019 describes the prevalence of visually significant cataract in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Results suggest that continued efforts are required to build sustainable cataract surgery services within Indigenous communities.
Access to the article is available via the link above.
National Eye Health Survey Report
October 2016
A summary report of the first national survey to determine the prevalence and major causes of vision impairment and blindness in Australia prepared by the Centre for Eye Research Australia and Vision 2020 Australia.
The NEHS was conducted by investigators at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) in partnership with Vision 2020 Australia, the national peak body for eye health and vision care in Australia. Project governance and oversight was led by Vision 2020 Australia and the NEHS Steering Committee consisting of representatives from CERA, the Australian Government Department of Health, major contributing partners and the eye health and vision care sector.
The full National Eye Health Survey Report is available in PDF and RTF format from the Vision 2020 Australia website.
Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019
September 2015
The Minister for Health has released the government’s Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015–2019 which outlines the government’s key priorities over the next four years to improve the health and wellbeing of all Victorians.
The full Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019 is available in PDF format from the Victorian Government website.
Value of Indigenous sight: An economic analysis
September 2015
The Value of Indigenous Sight PwC report, commissioned by University of Melbourne Indigenous Eye Health, measures the value of implementing 42 recommendations in the University’s Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision.
The link above will take you to the PDF version of the report available on the website of the University of Melbourne Indigenous Eye Health
A snapshot of blindness and low vision services in Australia
August 2015
Vision 2020 Australia, National Disability Services (NDS) and the Australian Blindness Forum (ABF) undertook an online survey of their collective members (service providers, consumer groups and research bodies), in order to obtain a national perspective on the blindness, low vision and rehabilitation sector.
The report highlights issues relating to current capacity in anticipation of rising demand for blindness, low vision and rehabilitation services.
The link provided will redirect you to the Vision 2020 Australia website where the report is available in PDF and Word formats.
Victorian Population Health Survey 2011-12 report
October 2014
The Victorian Population Health Survey has been conducted each year since 2001 and is based on a sample of 7,500 adults aged 18 years and over who are randomly selected from households from each of the eight Department of Health regions in the state. In 2011-12, the sample size for the survey was expanded to approximately 34,000 respondents to include the 79 local government areas in Victoria.
Information in the report is presented on health and lifestyle including physical activity, smoking prevalence, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, intake of sugar-sweetened drinks, selected health and screening checks, body weight, asthma and diabetes prevalence, psychological distress, oral health and eye health.
Out of Sight – A report into diabetic eye disease in Australia
October 2013
This report by the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, looks at the impact of diabetic eye disease in Australia and what can be done to combat this leading cause of irreversible blindness.
The link above will take you to the PDF version of the report available on the website of CERA
'Towards Universal Eye Health' – Global Action Plan 2014-2019 (WHO)
May 2013
In 2013 the 66th World Health Assembly unanimously approved the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019 – 'Towards Universal Eye Health'. The Global Action Plan (GAP) is a commitment endorsed by all WHO Member States to improve eye health for everyone (‘Universal Eye Health’) over the next five years.
The Global Action Plan can be downloaded in a number of languages from the website of the World Health Organisation.
Victorian Population Health Survey 2010
October 2012
The Victorian Population Health Survey has been conducted each year since 2001 and is based on a sample of 7500 adults aged 18 years and over, randomly selected from households from each of the eight Department of Health regions in the state. In 2010, computer-assisted telephone interviewing was undertaken between May and July.
Information in the report is presented on health and lifestyle, including physical activity levels, smoking prevalence, alcohol consumption, intake of fruit and vegetables, selected health and screening checks, body weight, asthma and diabetes prevalence, psychological distress and social networks.
The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision (full report)
January 2012
‘The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision’ project has been conducted by the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at The University of Melbourne. The aim is to ‘Close the Gap for Vision’ by eliminating the known differences in the standard of eye health in Indigenous Australians compared to mainstream Australians.
This detailed report, The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision – Full Report, describes the research project with an explanation of the findings and consultation process that led to the recommendations. A shorter document, The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision, summarises our research findings and policy recommendations.
Victorian Population Health Survey 2009
January 2012
In 2009, computer-assisted telephone interviewing was undertaken between November and December reaching a sample of 7,500 adults aged 18 years and over, randomly selected from households from each of the eight Department of Health regions in the state.
Information in the report is presented on health and lifestyle, including physical activity levels, smoking prevalence, alcohol consumption, intake of fruit and vegetables, selected health and screening checks, body weight, asthma and diabetes prevalence, psychological distress and social networks and includes a section on eye health.
April 2011
The Victorian Population Health Survey was first conducted in 2001. The survey is conducted each year and is based on a sample of 7,500 adults aged 18 years and over, randomly selected from households from each of the eight Department of Health regions in the state.
In 2008, computer-assisted telephone interviewing was undertaken between August and December, and the sample was expanded to approximately 34,000 and taken at the local government area level. Information in the report is presented on health and lifestyle, including physical activity levels, smoking prevalence, alcohol consumption, intake of fruit and vegetables, selected health and screening checks, body weight, asthma and diabetes prevalence, psychological distress and social networks and includes a section on eye health.
June 2010
Vision 2020 Australia, on behalf of its members commissioned a report from the independent economic analysts, Access Economics Pty Limited to update Clear Insight (2004) – a report outlining the economic impact and cost of vision loss in Australia.
Clear Focus (2009) provides current data and updated projections to 2020 of the economic impact and cost to government, industry and the community of vision loss in Australia.
View the RTF version here
October 2009
The survey was designed to provide essential evidence to be used to plan and prioritise the effective delivery of eye care for Indigenous Australians. It was published by the Indigenous Eye Health Unit in collaboration with Centre for Eye Research Australia and the Vision CRC.
The link above will open the Resources page of the Vision 2020 Autralia website, where you can download the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey report.
February 2008
This report, prepared by Access Economics, constructs a dynamic model of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in Australia, to inform policy development.
The link above will take you to the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) website where you can download a PDF version of the report.
2007
The study was the first large population-based assessment of visual impairment and common eye diseases of an older Australian community sample.
The link above will take you to the Centre for Vision Research website.
February 2006
This report, prepared by Access Economics, follows on from Clear Insight (available above). It gives a dynamic economic model of the impacts of age-related macular degeneration.
The link above will take you to the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) website where you can download a PDF copy of the report.
November 2005
This document sets out a strategic National Framework for action for the promotion of eye health and the prevention of avoidable blindness.
The link above will take you to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing website.
Victorian Ophthalmology Service Planning Framework
October 2005
This document provides a framework for the delivery of public ophthalmology services in Victoria to the year 2016. A copy of the framework and related documents are available for download.
The link above will take you to the Victorian Department of Health website.
2005
Synthesis of data from two cross-sectional population-based cohort studies — the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project and the Blue Mountains Eye Study — and extrapolation to the entire Australian population.
Study by Hugh R Taylor, Jill E Keeffe, Hien T V Vu, Jie Jin Wang, Elena Rochtchina, Paul Mitchell and M Lynne Pezzullo
Investing in Sight: Strategic Interventions to Prevent Vision Loss in Australia
June 2005
This report, prepared by Access Economics, suggests a plan of strategic interventions to not only reduce the cost but save the community millions of dollars in the long term. It follows the Clear Insight report (available above).
The link above will open a PDF document on the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) website.
August 2004
This report, prepared by Access Economics, discusses the direct health costs, indirect health costs and cost of suffering vision impairment in Australia.
The link above will take you to the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) website, where both the Overview and Full Report are available.
2001
The article describes the risk factors for age-related maculopathy (ARM) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Australians aged 40 years and older.
The link above will take you to the Archives of Opthalmology website (Volume 119, no 10, pp.1455-1462).
2001
Study by VanNewkirk MR, Weih L, McCarty CA, Taylor HR.
Methods for a population-based study of eye disease: the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project
1994
Study by Livingston PM, Carson CA, Stanislavsky YL, Lee SE, Guest CS and Taylor HR.