Nearly half a million Australians have impaired vision. Vision loss trebles for every decade of life after 40 years of age. Forecasts show that the ageing of the population will cause eye disease to double by the year 2020. Three quarters of visual impairment, however, can be prevented or treated.

Policies and Reports

The Victorian ophthalmology service planning framework provides a framework for the delivery of public ophthalmology services in Victoria to the year 2016. The need to develop clear strategies for the delivery of ophthalmology services is a recommendation of the Department of Human Service’s Metropolitan Health Strategy (2003).

The framework aims to guide the future provision of ophthalmology care through:

• design of the service system
• development of an appropriate workforce to support it
• addressing long-standing and emerging issues.

Nine key recommendations are outlined to improve service access, distribution and capacity.

External Links

Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Orthoptic Association of Australia
Optometrists Association of Australia
Australian Ophthalmic Nurses' Association
Vision Australia Foundation

Contact us ophthalmology@dhs.vic.gov.au