The 2019 Annual Update on the Implementation of The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision was launched on November 11, 2019, at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists 51st Annual Scientific Congress in Sydney.
the 2019 Update presented further outstanding achievements and progress by the Aboriginal health and eye care sectors
According to the 2019 Roadmap Update, half of the systemic issues in Indigenous eye care have been fixed, confirming Australia remains on track to Close the Gap for Vision for Indigenous Australians by the end of 2020. However, experts say that the goal won’t be achieved without ongoing support for long-term solutions.
Deputy Director, optometrist Mitchell Anjou AM said the 2019 Update presented further outstanding achievements and progress by the Aboriginal health and eye care sectors.
“We believe that we are on track to Close the Gap for Vision, but additional government support is required to further expand outreach services and improve co-ordination and access to treatment services and these outcomes need to be measured – hence the advocacy for another national eye health survey in 2020,” said Mr Anjou.
Success Reported
The success so far is indebted to the optometrists who have helped to nearly triple the outreach eye examinations received by Indigenous Australians in the past six years. As well as this, the number of Indigenous Australians with diabetes receiving annual eye examinations for diabetic retinopathy has more than doubled in the past 10 years, with overall 42% of Indigenous people with diabetes having exams.
With 155 retinal cameras being provided to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, these rates are expected to keep improving.
The 2019 Update highlights that half of the systemic issues identified in Indigenous eye care have been fixed with 50% of Roadmap recommendations implemented and 78% of activities completed. Currently, activity is underway in more than 55 regions covering over 90% of the Indigenous population and nationwide, 62% of the need for Indigenous eye examinations for refractive error is being met.
In terms of cataract surgery, rates have increased nearly 2.5 times since 2008, but a further 2,400 cataract surgeries are required each year to meet the population-based need. Indigenous patients still wait 50% longer for cataract surgery in public hospitals, promoting calls for more timely access, resources and case management.
Additionally, the Indigenous blindness rate has dropped from six times that of non-Indigenous Australians in 2008 to three times as likely in 2015. A survey in 2020 would determine how much further it has fallen in the past five years. Subsidised schemes are being reviewed and strengthened to improve access to prescription glasses.
Trachoma Plummeting
Nearly eight years since launching his plan to improve the eye health of Indigenous Australians, Professor Hugh Taylor said significant advances were also being made to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) target for the elimination of trachoma in Indigenous communities in Australia by the end of 2020.
“Over the last 10 years, the number of community hotspots for trachoma has reduced from 54 to 13. Trachoma is easily spread between children so ongoing efforts are needed to maintain improvements in hygiene,” said Prof Taylor.
As we approach the final year of the Roadmap, Prof Taylor said steps still need to be taken to guarantee equity by 2020.
“We have seen an increase in funding and a three-fold increase in outreach of eye services, but to meet community needs we still have another 25% to go,” he said.
“The work being done by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations and all of our partners in eye health has been instrumental in this progress. We cannot overemphasise the importance of linking primary health care with specialist eye health services.
“Ongoing support is vital to ensuring the expanded services are firmly embedded in the ACCHOs and other primary care providers to make sure that the changes are sustainable over the long term. It will not be possible to Close the Gap for Vision without additional funding.”
Five Year Plan
Prof Taylor highlighted Vision 2020 Australia initiatives as priority areas for government, saying that members have launched a five-year plan to improve indigenous eye health.
“The Strong Eyes, Strong Communities plan calls for AU$85.5 million to empower ACCHOs, build on our work to Close the Gap for Vision and provide a framework and advocacy program until 2024,” said Prof Taylor.
This funding would include $18.1 million to expand the Visiting Optometrists Scheme and $10.8 million for a nationally consistent subsidised spectacles scheme.
“Ongoing reporting and monitoring of progress are of critical importance for maintaining service levels. Funding is urgently required to repeat the National Eye Health Survey in 2020 to gather data and measure the improvement in eye health,” he said.
Optometrists in Community Settings
Mr Anjou acknowledged the importance of optometrists leaving their practices and getting out into the community. “The number of people we are examining continues to increase, but still needs to, both in Aboriginal health services, including Aboriginal community-controlled settings, and also in mainstream care.
“Optometry’s awareness, sensitivity and competence also continues to grow although some challenges remain around establishing culturally safe practices and care.”
The Update reports effective progress through the work of regional stakeholder collectives and networks, supported and overseen by state committees.
“These structures are critical to allow people contributing to and supporting pathways of care to work together, and we are delighted that optometry and optometrists actively and enthusiastically participate in these approaches across the country,” said Mr Anjou.
“The ‘where to from here?’ question is now easy to answer as once the gap is closed, further improvement is required and can be delivered against a goal of eliminating avoidable blindness.”
Future work is framed in Vision 2020 Australia’s Strong Eyes, Strong Communities sector plan for 2019-24 and the Australian Government’s Long-Term Health Plan to 2025.
Read the report here.
This article was published with the permission of Optometry Australia.
The Roadmap is an initiative of Indigenous Eye Health, in the University of Melbourne and led by Melbourne Laureate Professor and ophthalmologist Hugh Taylor AC. It is endorsed by Optometry Australia, RANZCO, Vision 2020 Australia and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
