Key references
References for the key publications about the eye health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are listed here.
2011
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2011)
Eye health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
This paper summarises the findings of the 2008 National Indigenous eye health survey and presents data from the National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit, Medicare, hospital data collections and case studies.
The major findings include:
- Indigenous people over the age of 40 have six times the rate of blindness of non-Indigenous Australians
- Indigenous children have less poor vision than non-Indigenous children
- 94% of vision loss in Indigenous Australians is preventable or treatable
- 35% of Indigenous Australians report they have never had an eye examination
- trachoma was found in one half of very remote communities at endemic levels
- cataract was the cause of one-third of blindness in Indigenous adults.
Research suggests that improved vision is associated with provision of eye services by the community-controlled sector and that well coordinated services are more productive, have shorter waiting lists and save money.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
Jones JN, Henderson G, Poroch N, Anderson I, Taylor H (2011)
A critical history of Indigenous eye health policy-making : towards effective system reform.
Melbourne: Indigenous Eye Health Unit, the University of Melbourne
This report documents the history of Indigenous eye health policy-making in Australia from the late 1970s' National trachoma and eye health program to the present time, with the aim of providing evidence to assist the Australian Government and the Council of Australian Governments in the system reform of Indigenous eye health. By undertaking a review of literature in the area of Indigenous eye health, and interviewing key stakeholders, the report:
- describes the development of Indigenous eye health programs and policy
- recognises the key barriers and catalysts to the development of effective programs and policy
- identifies strategies to assist in the future system reform of Indigenous eye health.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
2010
Taylor HR, Xie J, Fox S, Dunn RA, Arnold A-L, Keeffe JE (2010)
The prevalence and causes of vision loss in Indigenous Australians: the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey.
Medical Journal of Australia; 192(6): 312-318
2009
Taylor HR, National Indigenous Eye Health Survey Team (2009)
National Indigenous eye health survey: minum barreng (tracking eyes): full report.
Melbourne: Indigenous Eye Health Unit, The University of Melbourne
This report details the findings of the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey which was conducted in 2008 to define:
- the extent of vision loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- the causes of vision loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- the impact of vision loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
The survey was designed to plan and prioritise the effective delivery of eye care for Indigenous people. Overall 2,883 Indigenous people were examined. The report records the extent of eye health problems such as refractive error, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, blindness and trachoma.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
2008
Couzos S, Taylor H, Wright H (2008)
Trachoma.
In: Couzos S, Murray R, eds. Aboriginal primary health care: an evidence-based approach. 3rd ed. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press: 708-731
Tellis B, Keeffe JE, Taylor HR (2008)
Trachoma surveillance annual report, 2007: a report by the National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence; 32(4): 388-399
2007
Kain S, Morgan W, Riley D, Dorizzi K, Hogarth G, Yu DY (2007)
Prevalence of trachoma in school children of remote Western Australian communities between 1992 and 2003.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; 35(2): 119-123
Wright HR (2007)
Trachoma in Australia: an evaluation of the SAFE strategy and the barriers to its implementation.
Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Melbourne: Melbourne
2006
Communicable Disease Network Australia (2006)
Guidelines for the public health management of trachoma in Australia.
Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing
Trachoma is a serious eye health condition affecting many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, particularly in some parts of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. These guidelines establish a minimum best-practice approach for the public health management of trachoma. The content includes a brief history of trachoma and discusses: prevalence in Australia; responsibility for trachoma control activities; and methods of educating the health workforce and engaging the community.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
Durkin SR, Casson R, Newland HS, Selva D (2006)
Prevalence of trachoma and diabetes-related eye disease among a cohort of adult Aboriginal patients screened over the period 1999-2004 in remote South Australia.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; 34(4): 329-334
Mak DB (2006)
Better late than never: a national approach to trachoma control [editorial].
Medical Journal of Australia; 184(10): 487-488
2005
Jaross N, Ryan P, Newland H (2005)
Incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy in an Aboriginal Australian population: results from the Katherine Region Diabetic Retinopathy Study (KRDRS). Report no. 2.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; 33(1): 26-33
This article is the second in a series outlining the progress of the Katherine Region Diabetic Retinopathy Study (KRDRS), which was carried out in the Lower Top End of the Northern Territory between 1993 and 1996. The KRDRS investigated diabetic eye conditions and their determinants in the Aboriginal population and found that although the overall incidence of diabetic retinopathy in the Aboriginal diabetic population is lower than that for non-Indigenous diabetics, Aboriginal diabetics are at special risk for developing vision-threatening retinopathy.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
Murray RB, Metcalf SM, Lewis PM, Mein JK, McAllister IL (2005)
Sustaining remote-area programs: retinal camera use by Aboriginal health workers and nurses in a Kimberley partnership.
Medical Journal of Australia; 182(10): 520-523
2004
Taylor V, Ewald D, Liddle H, Warchivker I (2004)
Review of the implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health program.
Canberra: Centre for Remote Health
The intention of the review was to determine the current state of the implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Program (NATSIEHP). The report includes the program background and a summary of progress since previous recommendations were made. Other details include: the main eye conditions affecting Indigenous people; data collections; service delivery (including specialist services); and the availability and utilisation of equipment. Further recommendations suggest options for integrating the NATSIEHP into the primary health sector.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract
2003
Ewald DP, Hall GV, Franks CC (2003)
An evaluation of a SAFE-style trachoma control program in Central Australia.
Medical Journal of Australia; 178(2): 65-68
Jaross N, Ryan P, Newland H (2003)
Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in an Aboriginal Australian population: results from the Katherine Region Diabetic Retinopathy Study (KRDRS): report no. 1.
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; 31(1): 32-39
Jaross N (2003)
Diabetic retinopathy in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory.
Unpublished Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Adelaide: Adelaide, South Australia
Mak D, Plant A, McAllister I (2003)
Screening for diabetic retinopathy in remote Australia: a program description and evaluation of a devolved model.
Australian Journal of Rural Health; 11(5): 224-230
McCarty CA (2003)
Diabetic retinopathy: yet another reason for a comprehensive eye-care programme for Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders [editorial].
Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology; 31(1): 6-7
2001
Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (2001)
Specialist eye health guidelines for use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
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