A national survey has revealed that rates of vision impairment around Australia have fallen over the past decade, but challenges remain in bridging vital eyecare access gaps for many.
Health and Ageing Minister Mr Mark Butler launched the Australian Eye and Ear Health Survey (AEEHS) at Parliament House, Canberra, on 9 October, World Sight Day.
A media release said the survey examined more than 4,500 Australians across 30 sites nationwide — including over 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants — to assess changes in the prevalence and causes of vision impairment and, for the first time, hearing loss.
It is the most comprehensive study of its kind, with the AEEHS providing a contemporary snapshot of the nation’s eye and ear health, building on the landmark National Eye Health Survey (NEHS) conducted in 2015–16.
The release said results revealed encouraging signs of progress, with reductions in rates of vision impairment across both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians since 2016, driven by improvements in cataract surgery and refractive error correction.
However, the data also highlighted that inequities still remain:
• Vision impairment rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are still almost three times higher than among non-Indigenous Australians.
• Around 40% of Australians aged over 50 experience some level of hearing impairment.
• Remoteness, diabetes, and socio-economic factors remain key risks for both eye and ear health.
Vision 2020 Australia CEO Ms Carly Iles said the findings underscored the need for continued national leadership and targeted action.
“This survey provides the evidence base we need to ensure no one in Australia is left behind when it comes to seeing and hearing well. It’s an important reminder that progress is possible, but only if we stay focused on access, prevention and early intervention,” she said.
The AEEHS was delivered by the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in collaboration with partner universities and organisations across the sector. It was funded by the Australian Government, with additional support from the Martin Lee Centre for Innovations in Hearing Health at Macquarie University and Vision 2020 Australia, which championed the call for this follow-up national survey.
The survey’s findings will guide future policy, service delivery and advocacy to further reduce preventable vision loss and hearing impairment across Australia.
