Screening for diabetic retinopathy among those with self-reported diabetes (2.3.2)
The number of First Nations screened for diabetic retinopathy in the 12-month period who had also had a diabetes test in the 12-month period or in the year before, as a proportion of those who had a diabetes test – National Eye Health Survey 2016 (NEHS) data.
Latest data
Current guidelines recommend a diabetic eye examination annually for First Nations people with diabetes, and at least every two years for non-Indigenous Australians with diabetes.
For First Nations participants in the 2016 NEHS aged 40 and over with self-reported diabetes:
just over half (53%) of First Nations had had a diabetic eye examination in the preceding 12 months, the period recommended in the NHMRC guidelines.
The proportion who had had a diabetic eye examination in the preceding 12 months varied by remoteness, with participants in Very remote areas having the lowest rate (35%).
Foreman J, Keel S, Xie J, van Wijngaarden P, Crowston J, Taylor HR and Dirani M (2016) National Eye Health Survey [full report] [PDF 10.79MB], Vision 2020 and Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, accessed 9 July 2021.