The number of hospital separations with a procedure for cataract surgery, per 1,000,000 First Nations people: Measure 3.4
On this page:
Hospitalisations reflect both the occurrence in the population of eye conditions which are serious enough to require hospitalisation, as well as access to and use of hospitals services. The cataract surgery rate is calculated per million to align with international standards (Figure 34 and Figure 36).
Latest data
In the 2-year period from 2021–23, there were 8,008 hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery – a rate of 4,467 per 1,000,000 population. The number of hospitalisations over the 2-year period from 2021–23 was below the estimated annual number of First Nations people needing cataract surgery (17,031) (Figure 34).
Figure 34: Cataract surgery rate, 2019–21 and 2021–23
Notes
- Based on any procedure code.
- Includes procedure blocks 193–203.
- Hospitalisations with a care type of Newborn (without qualified days) and records for Hospital boarders and Posthumous organ procurement have been excluded.
- Includes public and private hospitals.
Source: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database
Estimated need for cataract surgery
Need for cataract surgery from 2013–14 to 2022–23 has been estimated based on growth in the First Nations population. Percentage of estimated need met has been calculated based on the number of cataract surgery separations. From 2013–14 to 2022–23 the percent of need met has more than doubled and was over 50% for the first time in 2022–23.
Figure 35: Percent of estimated need for cataract surgery that was met, 2013–14 to 2022–23
Source: AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database
Explore more aspects of the data in the following section. See also Figure 36.
By remoteness
In 2021–23, the age-standardised rate of hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery was highest in Inner and outer regional areas (combined) (8,506 per 1,000,000) (Figure 36 – remoteness).
By jurisdiction
In 2021–23, the jurisdictions with the highest age-standardised hospitalisation rates for cataract surgery for First Nations people were Western Australia (11,211 per 1,000,000), New South Wales (8,661 per 1,000,000) and Tasmania (8,985 per 1,000,000) (Figure 36 – jurisdiction).
By age and Indigenous status
In 2021–23, rates of cataract surgery increased with age and were highest for those aged 75 and over (Figure 36 – population groups).
In 2021–23, the rate of hospitalisations was higher for First Nations people aged 45–54 and 55–64 than for non-Indigenous Australians of the same age. However, at older ages, rates were higher for non-Indigenous Australians than First Nations people. The difference in First Nations and non-Indigenous rates of cataract surgery was greatest for those aged 75 and over (60,110 and 65,176 per 1,000,000, respectively) (Figure 36 – population groups).
By Primary Health Network
In 2021–23, the PHNs with the highest reported rates of hospitalisations for First Nations people for cataract surgery were Country WA (8,299 per 1,000,000) and Murrumbidgee (6,490 per 1,000,000) (Figure 36 – geography).
By roadmap region
In 2021–23, the 7 Roadmap regions that came closest to meeting the estimated need for cataract surgery all met 70% or more of the need. The 4 Roadmap regions with the highest hospitalisation rates for First Nations people for cataract surgery had rates greater than 7,500 per 1,000,000 (Figure 36 – geography).
Time trend
Age-specific hospitalisation rates for First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians for cataract surgery increased in all age-groups from 2015–16 to 2018–19, they then fluctuated, but increased overall between 2018–19 and 2022–23 (Figure 35 – time trend).
Between 2015–16 and 2018–19, the age-standardised rate for cataract surgery for First Nations people increased from 7,504 to 8,130 per 1,000,000, then fluctuated, but increased overall between 2018–19 and 2022–23 to 9,297 per 1,000,000. The trend line shows a slight rise in the age-standardised cataract surgery rate for First Nations people over this time (Figure 36 – time trend).
Figure 36: Cataract surgery rate: interactive data
The following extended descriptions are provided to assist people using screen readers. To download the data tables, visit Data.
Remoteness Indigenous status Per 1,000,000 age standardised
Inner/outer regional First Nations 8,506
Inner/outer regional Non-Indigenous 9,196
Major cities First Nations 7,924
Major cities Non-Indigenous 8579
Remote/very remote First Nations 8169
Remote/very remote Non-Indigenous 8230
Jurisdiction Indigenous status Per 1,000,000 age standardised
ACT First Nations 5,449See
ACT Non-Indigenous 4,403
NSW First Nations 8,661
NSW Non-Indigenous 8,450
NT First Nations 5,000
NT Non-Indigenous 7,787
Qld First Nations 7,705
Qld Non-Indigenous 9,287
SA First Nations 8,151
SA Non-Indigenous 8,206
Tas First Nations 8,985
Tas Non-Indigenous 10,780
Vic First Nations 7,492
Vic Non-Indigenous 8,233
WA First Nations 11,211
WA Non-Indigenous 9,362
Age Indigenous status Per 1,000,000
45–54 First Nations 3,996
45–54 Non-Indigenous 3,299
55–64 First Nations 16,201
55–64 Non-Indigenous 13,359
65–74 First Nations 42,903
65–74 Non-Indigenous 45,195
75+ First Nations 60,110
75+ Non-Indigenous 65,176
Primary Health Network, First Nations per 1,000,000
ACT
Australian Capital Territory, 2,368
NSW
Central and Eastern Sydney, 3,509
Hunter New England and Central Coast, 5,054
Murray, 3,851
Murrumbidgee, 6,490
Nepean Blue Mountains, 2,909
Northern Sydney, 6,036
South Eastern NSW, 4,265
South Western Sydney, 3,058
Western Sydney, 2,021
Western NSW, 6,067
NT
Northern Territory, 2,880
Qld
Brisbane North, 4,162
Brisbane South, 3,894
Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, 4,318
Darling Downs and West Moreton, 3,039
Gold Coast, 3,096
North Coast, 6,188
Northern Queensland, 4,352
Western Queensland, 5,321
SA
Adelaide, 3,710
Country SA, 4,341
Tas
Tasmania, 5,839
Vic
Eastern Melbourne, 4,021
Gippsland, 4,549
North Western Melbourne, 2,980
South Eastern Melbourne, 4,255
Western Victoria, 4,225
WA
Country WA, 8,299
Perth North, 3,367
Perth South, 3,265
Roadmap region First Nations per 1,000,000 Per cent need met
ACT 2,368 24.9
Adelaide Central North West 3,973 41.8
Adelaide South 3,136 33.0
Barkly 3,550 37.4
Cairns 5,614 59.1
Cape York 4,192 44.1
Central Australia 1,972 20.8
Central Coast 4,322 45.5
Central Gippsland 4,909 51.7
Central Queensland 4,329 45.6
Central Tablelands 5,689 59.9
Central West Queensland 5,626 59.2
Darling Downs 3,156 33.2
East Arnhem 3,671 38.6
East Gippsland 3,709 39.0
Eastern Metropolitan Melbourne 4,071 42.9
Eastern Metropolitan Sydney 3,514 37.0
Eyre and Far North (ex APY) 4,444 46.8
Far South Coast 3,865 40.7
Far West NSW 5,447 57.3
Geelong 4,423 46.6
Goldfields 8,034 84.6
Grampians 4,540 47.8
Great South Coast 2,923 30.8
Great Southern 4,642 48.9
Greater Darwin 3,425 36.1
Hume East 2,613 27.5
Hume West 4,823 50.8
Hunter 4,977 52.4
Katherine 1,812 19.1
Kimberley 10,965 115.4
Limestone Coast 4,109 43.2
Loddon 4,247 44.7
Mackay 3,230 34.0
Mallee 3,759 39.6
Mid North Coast 5,920 62.3
Mid West 10,545 111.0
Murray Mallee Hills and Fleurieu 3,868 40.7
NG Lands 7,644 80.5
North 8,248 86.8
North Coast 6,475 68.2
North West 5,248 55.2
North West Queensland 3,977 41.9
North and West Metropolitan Melbourne 3,286 34.6
Northern Metropolitan Sydney 6,027 63.4
Northern SA combined (2 regions) 5,003 52.7
Perth 3,383 35.6
Pilbara 5,330 56.1
Riverina (Murrumbidgee) 5,760 60.6
Riverland 3,432 36.1
South 5,259 55.4
South Coast 4,485 47.2
South East Metropolitan Melbourne 4,270 44.9
South East Queensland 3,701 39.0
South West 4,730 49.8
South West Metropolitan Sydney 2,939 30.9
South West Queensland 8,480 89.3
Torres Strait 3,424 36.0
Townsville / Palm Island 3,512 37.0
Western Metropolitan Sydney 2,568 27.0
Western NSW 6,205 65.3
Wheatbelt 6,374 67.1
Yorke and Northern 3,578 37.7
Year Age Indigenous status Per 1,000,000
2015-16 45–54 First Nations 3,238
2015-16 45–54 Non-Indigenous 2,936
2015-16 55–64 First Nations 12,023
2015-16 55–64 Non-Indigenous 12,439
2015-16 65–74 First Nations 39,636
2015-16 65–74 Non-Indigenous 44,427
2015-16 75+ First Nations 53,036
2015-16 75+ Non-Indigenous 67,680
2016-17 45–54 First Nations 3,253
2016-17 45–54 Non-Indigenous 2,855
2016-17 55–64 First Nations 13,983
2016-17 55–64 Non-Indigenous 12,683
2016-17 65–74 First Nations 41,625
2016-17 65–74 Non-Indigenous 45,116
2016-17 75+ First Nations 49,692
2016-17 75+ Non-Indigenous 66,933
2017-18 45–54 First Nations 3,462
2017-18 45–54 Non-Indigenous 3,087
2017-18 55–64 First Nations 13,229
2017-18 55–64 Non-Indigenous 13,110
2017-18 65–74 First Nations 38,984
2017-18 65–74 Non-Indigenous 46,637
2017-18 75+ First Nations 56,120
2017-18 75+ Non-Indigenous 67,826
2018-19 45–54 First Nations 3,850
2018-19 45–54 Non-Indigenous 2,988
2018-19 55–64 First Nations 15,884
2018-19 55–64 Non-Indigenous 13,096
2018-19 65–74 First Nations 42,762
2018-19 65–74 Non-Indigenous 46,823
2018-19 75+ First Nations 58,877
2018-19 75+ Non-Indigenous 67,054
2019-20 45–54 First Nations 2,958
2019-20 45–54 Non-Indigenous 2,601
2019-20 55–64 First Nations 12,148
2019-20 55–64 Non-Indigenous 11,346
2019-20 65–74 First Nations 38,883
2019-20 65–74 Non-Indigenous 39,867
2019-20 75+ First Nations 48,026
2019-20 75+ Non-Indigenous 55,908
2020-21 45–54 First Nations 4,088
2020-21 45–54 Non-Indigenous 3,425
2020-21 55–64 First Nations 16,371
2020-21 55–64 Non-Indigenous 13,729
2020-21 65–74 First Nations 46,519
2020-21 65–74 Non-Indigenous 47,588
2020-21 75+ First Nations 63,290
2020-21 75+ Non-Indigenous 66,755
2021-22 45–54 First Nations 3,523
2021-22 45–54 Non-Indigenous 3,195
2021-22 55–64 First Nations 13,547
2021-22 55–64 Non-Indigenous 12,872
2021-22 65–74 First Nations 38,391
2021-22 65–74 Non-Indigenous 43,183
2021-22 75+ First Nations 51,685
2021-22 75+ Non-Indigenous 61,462
2022-23 45–54 First Nations 4,470
2022-23 45–54 Non-Indigenous 3,402
2022-23 55–64 First Nations 18,772
2022-23 55–64 Non-Indigenous 13,845
2022-23 65–74 First Nations 47,168
2022-23 65–74 Non-Indigenous 47,186
2022-23 75+ First Nations 67,849
2022-23 75+ Non-Indigenous 68,718