Screening for diabetic retinopathy among those with self-reported diabetes (survey data)
Measure 2.3.2: The number of Indigenous Australians 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 (survey data).
Current guidelines recommend a diabetic eye examination annually for Indigenous Australians with diabetes, and at least every two years for non-Indigenous Australians with diabetes.
- In 2016, just over half (53%) of Indigenous participants in the eye health survey aged 40 and over with self-reported diabetes had had a diabetic eye examination in the preceding 12 months, the period recommended in the NHMRC guidelines.
- The proportion of Indigenous participants in the NEHS with self-reported diabetes 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%).