Impact of diabetes on eye care service needs: the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To assess the proportion of Australian Indigenous adults who require eye care services (separately among those with and without diabetes) and determine implications for eye care service planning. DESIGN: The National Indigenous Eye Health Survey (NIEHS) was a population-based study of 30 randomly selected geographical areas. PARTICIPANTS: The NIEHS included 1189 Indigenous adults aged 40-80 years. METHODS: A standardized eye examination was performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The number requiring eye care services by diabetes status. RESULTS: Those with diabetes were older (median 53 years) than those without diabetes (median age 50 years), P < 0.001. The total estimated population-..