Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2024: interactive data

The number and proportion of First Nations people who were screened for diabetic retinopathy and had retinal laser treatment: Measure 3.7.1

The diabetic retinopathy treatment rate, expressed as the number of First Nations people who had a retinal laser procedure or an intravitreal injection who had also had a diabetes test as a proportion of those screened for diabetic retinopathy. First Nations people who were screened for diabetic retinopathy may not have been found to have diabetic retinopathy. For this reason, the rate of those treated for diabetic retinopathy may be an underestimate.

The timely treatment of diabetic retinopathy can prevent vision loss. Treatment generally involves injections into the eye or laser therapy (Figure 43 and Figure 44).

Latest data

In 2022–23, 511 First Nations people screened for diabetic retinopathy underwent treatment – 3.6% of those screened. In 2022–23, the age‑standardised proportion treated was similar for First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians (2.7% and 2.9%, respectively) (Figure 43).

Figure 43: Treated for diabetic retinopathy among those screened for diabetic retinopathy, 2022–23

Notes

1. People screened for diabetic retinopathy are those who had a diabetes test (made a claim for MBS item 66551) within the reference period or the year before, who also had an eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist within the reference period.
2. People who had an eye exam by an optometrist are those who made a claim for MBS group A10, except items 10921–10930 within the reference period. People who had an eye exam by an ophthalmologist are those who made a claim for MBS group D1 subgroup 2 within the reference period.
3. Medicare data presented by Indigenous status have been adjusted for the under-identification in the Medicare Voluntary Indigenous Identifier (VII) database.
4. MBS data do not cover services provided in the public health system.
5. Data are based on date of service.

Source: AIHW analysis of Medical Benefits Schedule data.

By remoteness

In 2022–23, the proportion of First Nations people who received treatment for diabetic retinopathy was highest in Major cities and Outer regional areas (4.0% and 3.9%, respectively). The rate was lowest in Very Remote areas (1.4%) (Figure 43 – remoteness). 

By jurisdiction

In 2022–23, the proportion of First Nations people who received treatment for diabetic retinopathy ranged from 0.8% in the Northern Territory to 4.8% and 4.5% in New South Wales and South Australia, respectively (Figure 43 – jurisdiction).

By age and sex

In 2022–23, the number and proportion of First Nations males and females treated for diabetic retinopathy generally rose with age, to a peak of 4.9% (122 males) and 4.1% (118 females), in those aged 65 and over. A higher proportion of males than females underwent treatment in all age groups except those aged 45–54 (Figure 43 – population groups).

Time trend

Between 2013–14 and 2022–23, the number of First Nations people screened for diabetic retinopathy who underwent treatment fluctuated but decreased a little overall, from 529 to 511. The proportion who underwent treatment was 3.7% in 2013–14 and 3.6% in 2022–23 (Figure 43 – time trend).

Figure 44: Treated for diabetic retinopathy among those screened for diabetic retinopathy: interactive data