Prof Paul Mitchell

Australia’s Department of Health has announced it will follow-up 2016’s inaugural national eye health survey in the coming months.

Researchers will approach people at home to invite them to participate in the country’s second survey, which will include an ear health component and will examine nearly 5,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Aboriginal Australians over two years, starting in New South Wales. The Australian Department of Health said that the country’s increasing prevalence of diabetes was one impetus behind the decision to run a second survey.

Leading the survey is Professor Paul Mitchell, director of the Centre for Vision Research at The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR). The survey will allow the government to anticipate and plan prevention and treatment approaches to address vision and hearing loss now and well into the future, he said.

The Brien Holden Foundation and the University of NSW School of Optometry and Vision Sciences will help WIMR deliver the survey. “Our study will use new, non-invasive imaging technologies to help improve eye disease detection rates. Importantly, it will assess a broad representation of people from across Australia. We will also look to assess potential links between eye disease, vision and hearing loss and critical health and social outcomes,” said Prof Mitchell.

Ed’s note: New Zealand is still to get the nod for its first national eye health survey, a pressing need underscored by a University of Auckland pilot study. See, www.eyeonoptics.co.nz/articles/archive/door-knock-study-uncovers-unmet-needs/