Eyes on Medicare campaign – A call to reinstate two-yearly eye exams

Looking towards the 2025 Federal Election, Optometry Australia is preparing our ‘Eyes on Medicare’ campaign, calling on the Federal Government to reinstate Medicare-subsidised eye exams every two years for all Australians under 65.

In addition, our Federal election campaign will continue to seek Federal Government funding to partner in the delivery of our 2025 national consumer awareness campaign regarding childhood myopia.

Optometrists have been telling us that they are experiencing a drop off in initial comprehensive eye examinations for asymptomatic patients. We know that these patients may have, or be at risk of, ocular conditions that do not currently affect their sight, but which can result in vision impairment or vision loss if not identified fast enough to be managed effectively.

Optometry Australia’s analysis confirms our members concerns, showing that not enough asymptomatic Australians aged under 65 are having comprehensive eye examinations once every three years, let alone every two years as clinically recommended.

Analysis of MBS Item 10910 shows that:

The per capita drop off between 2017-18 and 2023-24 was in all states and territories. Women aged under 65 had a higher per capita drop off compared to men, and all age cohorts from 0-5 years to 55-64 year had a reduction in their per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations between 2017-18 and 2023-24.

We believe there are multiple reasons for this disturbing drop off. The 6.2% reduction in per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations between 2022-23 and 2023-24 indicates that cost-of-living issues may be having an impact. Also understandably, numbers fell during COVID. However, in all states and territories, per capita initial comprehensive eye examinations were lower in 2023-24 than in 2020-21 (during COVID).

We recognise that optometrists may be making greater use of other MBS items for progressing eye conditions (particularly in older patient cohorts). However, analysis shows a reduction in per capita usage of all comprehensive eye exams since the introduction of item 10910, compared to expected projections. Asymptomatic Australians are not accessing the regular eye care they need.

Projections show that the greatest increase in the absolute number of Australians with vision loss is expected between 2020 and 2030. This is highly concerning, and it is predicted to continue if we don’t address the root cause – not enough Australians are accessing comprehensive eye examinations.

The optometry profession vehemently opposed the 2014 Federal Budget’s changes to three yearly Medicare subsidised eye examinations for under 65s when it was announced. We foresaw a drop in the number of Australians in this age group accessing primary eye care – and data shows that we were right.

Optometry Australia is continuing its advocacy of the last decade, by calling for the next Federal Government to reinstate Medicare-subsidised initial comprehensive eye examinations every two years for Australians under 65.

We are bringing this important matter to the attention of the Federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler, and the Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston. We are also calling for the major political parties to address this issue in their election platforms.

In the coming months, we will need your help to draw attention to this issue. We will call on the sector to publicly support this initiative and we look forward to working with you to put primary eye care, and the need for asymptomatic Australians to access regular comprehensive eye exams, on the political agenda in 2025. We will also be asking for Government funding for our national awareness raising campaign on childhood myopia, launching in early 2025. Your active participation in this campaign next year will be vital to its success. We will provide you with the support and resources you need to undertake this critical advocacy work in 2025; to help ensure we keep Eyes on Medicare.

We know there is significant unmet need for eye and vision care across much of the country. As a result, and as part of our comprehensive approach to building a robust profession now and for the future, this campaign aligns with Optometry Australia’s strong focus on growing demand for optometrists’ services.

By calling on the Government to reinstate Medicare-subsidised eye exams every two years, Optometry Australia is putting the spotlight on the urgency of eye health in Australia and championing optometry’s role in providing primary eye care and preventing vision loss. By aligning this with our request that the Federal Government partners with us to deliver our 2025 national childhood myopia consumer awareness campaign, we will raise public awareness of the need for regular, comprehensive eye exams with an optometrist.

The message is simple: Australia cannot afford to wait—we must have Eyes on Medicare. Medicare must support accessible, timely eye care for all and the next Federal Government must reinstate Medicare-subsidised eye exams every two years for Australians under 65.

We look forward to working with you on this important campaign. For more information, please contact the Optometry Advancement team at policy@optometry.org.au.