People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background often face barriers accessing eye care services, placing them at greater risk of vision loss from preventable and treatable conditions.
The good news is that in most cases, vision loss is preventable or treatable if eye conditions are detected early.
If you are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, it is important that you have regular checks with an eye health professional. If you have diabetes, you should have your eyes checked once a year or as recommended by your eye health professional.
For more information see the resources on this page or have chat with your local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.
In Victoria, a low cost spectacle scheme (VASS – the Victorian Aboriginal Subsidised Spectacles Scheme) is available through participating optometrists for people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander . For more information, visit the website of the Australian College of Optometry.
For more information
Download the resources below:
Patchy vision? Diabetes and your eyes (PDF)
Blurry vision? Refractive error (PDF)
$10 glasses for the community (PDF)
Visit the following website:
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO