National Rural Health Alliance publishes new Eye and Vision Health in Rural Australia fact sheet in collaboration with Optometry Australia and RANZCO

Optometry Australia has worked with the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) to develop an updated Eye and Vision Health in Rural Australia fact sheet, available here on the NRHA website.

The fact sheet, intended as a reference point for the NRHA members and other rural and remote health stakeholders, outlines the challenges faced by patients outside of major cities.

It notes that rurality is associated with several poor eye health outcomes, and a higher prevalence of eye conditions has been reported among rural Australians compared with urban Australians. The fact sheet also summarises evidence-based best practice when managing eye health in rural areas.

The NRHA comprises 52 national organisations, including Optometry Australia and RANZCO. The Alliance is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the over seven million people in rural and remote Australia. They provide a united voice for people and health professionals living and working in rural communities and advocate for sustainable and affordable health services.

Optometry Australia would like to thank member Jingyi Chen from the University of Western Australia for providing a subject matter expert review on this fact sheet.