Specialist eye health guidelines for aboriginal and Torres Island populations

Historical Significance: The report addresses the needs of aboriginal populations especially with regard to cataract, diabetic retinopathy and trachoma. The Guidelines address recommendations arising from the 1997 Report - Eye Health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities - which was commissioned by the Commonwealth government and written by Professor Hugh Taylor, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne. It highlighted the dearth of quality eye health services in rural and remote Indigenous communities, and recommended the development of guidelines to assist health care professionals in the delivery of their services. The Guidelines were developed by the Centre for Eye Research Australia (Ophthalmology University of Melbourne) in collaboration with a reference group comprising membership from the Indigenous sub-committee of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, the Optometrists Association of Australia, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organization and the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. It can be downloaded from http://www.healthconnect.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-oatsih-pubs-sehg.htm