Population Health Unit

Impact of visual field loss on driving

A simulator validation studyis important to assess the impact of visual field loss on driving, involving participants with glaucoma, hemianopia / quadrantopia, retinitis pigmentosa, and age-related macular degeneration.

Personal costs of vision impairment

A documentation of the direct and indirect personal costs of vision impairment, involving an innovative approach to establishing the personal costs associated with vision impairment.

Lions Eye Health Program

In August 2007, LEHP launched its new website that provides information and resources for all Lions members. New material on diabetic retinopathy will be prepared to accompany recently released updated NHMRC guidelines on diabetic retinopathy.

Impact of Vision Impariment questionnaire

To apply the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) versions to eye care and rehabilitation services in Australia and other countries. Work on the children's version of the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) has been completed. The IVI-M was validated during work in Vanuatu. It is now being used in Fiji by ophthalmologists pre- and post - cataract surgery. The IVI has been translated into Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian and Greek. It is being used in the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Low Vision Clinic and as part of other projects which include quality of life assessment.

Children's Eye Health Education Program in outback communities

This program aims to help prevent vision loss in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children living in outback Australia. We have, in collaboration with local health, education and community service providers developed materials including posters and brochures to promote improved eye health education. These materials are distributed to rural and remote areas in every state with the help of organisations such as the Fred Hollows Foundation, Guide Dogs SA, NT, VACCHO, and the Royal Flying Doctors' Service, among others.

Enabling technology: Development of new non-mydriatic retinal camera

The Prototype 2 camera has progressed to field tests to assess effectiveness of the camera in detecting diabetic retinopathy and to demonstrate the camera’s integration into eye and health care programs.

RVEEH community eye care partnership

To trial a model to assist in meeting the growing demand for eye care services by linking Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hosppital care with primary eye care providers. Nine pilot sites are linked to the Hospital to provide care for patients with diabetic retinopathy, Age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. Internet based modules are being developed for these three diseases.

RVEEH Community Mapping

This project mapped the communities currently serviced by the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and identified under-represented groups according to age, gender, cultural background including non-English speaking and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, socio-economic status, and place of residence. Usage patterns for eye and ENT patients were analysed for each of the socio-demographic variables. Consultations with community organisations and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital staff identified possible barriers and needs experienced by under-represented groups.

Low Vision Clinic

A new Low Vision Clinic started at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in May 2008 with significant input from CERA's experts in low vision. CERA's Population Health Unit has a continuing role in conducting, monitoring and evalaution of the clinic.

Global mapping of low vision services in developed and developing countries

The global mapping of low vision services in 143 developed and developing countries has been completed. The data are to be entered into the WHO InfoBase. Two case studies are part of the mapping.

Eye care delivery models: Low vision services for children in Fiji

The establishment and evaluation of a low vision service for children in Fiji including a needs analysis to gather data on vision impairment in children 0 – 18 years. The program will increase awareness of and advocacy for low vision services. The project aims to produce a global map of low vision services and evaluate existing models in developed and developing countries to identify priority work areas identify critical success factors associated with effective low vision models of care and delivery of services in two selected countries; and inform the World Health Organisation of priority areas of work in low vision care and services.

Trachoma in the Pacific

To determine the presence of trachoma in the Pacific Island Region, Trachoma Rapid Assessments were completed in Kiribati, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. active trachoma in children was present in all countries surveyed and rates averaged >10% in all countries. Rates of trichiasis surgeries being performed is evidence of a potentially blinding problem. The study also aimed to identify risk factors for trachoma in the region. A model trachoma control strategy in the Pacific Islands has been created from the results of this project.

National Trachoma Surveillance and Reporting Unit

This Unit, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, aims to improve the quality and consistency of data collection and reporting on trachoma in Australia, consistent with the Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA) ‘Guidelines for the Public Health Management of Trachoma in Australia, 2006’.

National Indigenous Eye Health Survey

This program seeks to establish the prevalence, causes and impact on quality of life of vision loss and blindness in indigenous Australians, was conducted in 30 radmonly selected indigenous communities across urban, rural and remote Australia.

Full report