Recruitment and Testing Protocol in the National Eye Health Survey: A Population-Based Eye Study in Australia

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To present the recruitment and testing methodology of the National Eye Health Survey (NEHS), a population-based study that aimed to determine the prevalence and causes of vision impairment and blindness in Australia.

Methods: Non-Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and older and Indigenous Australians aged 40 years and older were recruited using a door-to-door approach from 30 randomly selected geographical areas, stratified by remoteness. Participants underwent a vision examination, anterior segment assessment, intraocular pressure testing, perimetry, and fundus photography.

Results: In total, recruiters approached 23,235 residences, and 11,883 residents were successfully contacted (51.1%). Of these, 6760 (56.9%) were deemed eligible and 5764 agreed to participate (positive response rate = 85.3%). Of those who agreed, 4836 residents attended the examination (4836/6760 = 71.5%). This included 1738 Indigenous Australians (41.1% male) aged 40–92 years (mean ± standard deviation = 55.0 ± 10.0 years) and 3098 non-Indigenous Australians (46.4% male), aged 50–98 years (mean ± standard deviation = 66.6 ± 9.7 years).

Conclusions: The NEHS achieved an excellent positive response rate, and the data collected from 4836 Australians will provide the first population-based national estimate of the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness. This data will guide future economic analysis, policy formulation, and eye health service delivery in Australia.

KEYWORDS:

• Blindness
• methodology
• prevalence
• survey
• vision impairment

Acknowledgments

The Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Vision 2020 Australia wish to recognize the contributions of all the NEHS project steering committee members (Professor Hugh Taylor, Dr Peter van Wijngaarden, Jennifer Gersbeck, Dr Jason Agostino, Anna Morse, Sharon Bentley, Robyn Weinberg, Christine Black, Genevieve Quilty, Louis Young and Rhonda Stilling) and the core CERA research team who assisted with the survey field work (Joshua Foreman, Pei Ying Lee, Rosamond Gilden, Larissa Andersen, Benny Phanthakesone, Celestina Pham, Alison Schokman, Megan Jackson, Hiba Wehbe, John Komser and Cayley Bush). Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the overwhelming support from all collaborating Indigenous organizations who assisted with the implementation of the survey, and the Indigenous health workers and volunteers in each survey site who contributed to the field work.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of this article.

Funding

The National Eye Health Survey was funded by the Australian Government, and also received financial contributions from Novartis Australia and in-kind support from our industry and sector partners, OPSM, Carl Zeiss, Designs for Vision, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Optometry Australia and the Brien Holden Vision Institute. We would like to specifically acknowledge OPSM, who kindly donated sunglasses valued at $130 for each study participant. The Centre for Eye Research Australia receives Operational Infrastructure Support from the Victorian Government. The Principal Investigator, Dr Mohamed Dirani, is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (#1090466). The PhD student, Joshua Foreman, is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.

Additional information

Funding

The National Eye Health Survey was funded by the Australian Government, and also received financial contributions from Novartis Australia and in-kind support from our industry and sector partners, OPSM, Carl Zeiss, Designs for Vision, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Optometry Australia and the Brien Holden Vision Institute. We would like to specifically acknowledge OPSM, who kindly donated sunglasses valued at $130 for each study participant. The Centre for Eye Research Australia receives Operational Infrastructure Support from the Victorian Government. The Principal Investigator, Dr Mohamed Dirani, is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (#1090466). The PhD student, Joshua Foreman, is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.