1. Making a Move Eye health and vision care Developed by the Vision Initiative, an eye health program funded by the Victorian Department of Health and managed by Vision 2020 Australia

2. Outline for today The Vision Initiative Eye health in Australia Common eye conditions Who’s who and how to access services The Victorian Eyecare Scheme Vision and falls prevention

3. The Vision Initiative Funded by the Victorian Department of Health Commenced in 2002 Aims to raise awareness of eye health and vision care to the general community and to health care professionals Works in partnership with the falls prevention unit of the Victorian Government to provide eye health information Key message Save Your Sight – Get Tested For more information visit www.visioninitiative.org.au

4. Save Your Sight – Get Tested Seventy five per cent of vision loss preventable or treatable This increases to 95 per cent in Indigenous communities If you are over 40 – get tested If you have noticed any vision changes - get tested If you have a family history of eye problems – get tested.

5. Eye health in Australia (2004)

6. Common eye conditions Eighty per cent of vision loss is caused by five main conditions (listed alphabetically) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) cataract diabetic retinopathy glaucoma under and uncorrected refractive error.

7. The Eye A Camera

8. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) This is a degenerating condition of the macular. The macula is an area on the retina that is responsible for central detailed vision. Early signs of macular degeneration include distorted central vision. Ten per cent of people with (AMD) can receive treatment that aims to slow the progress of the disease.

9. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Reduce the risk of developing AMD by stopping smoking maintaining a healthy diet having regular eye tests. Save Your Sight – Get Tested.

10. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD ) Normal eye AMD

11. Cataracts A clouding of the lens inside the eye. Normal part of the eye ageing. Other risk factors are diabetes, smoking, exposure to sunlight and corticosteroid use. Symptoms include: gradual dulling of vision new glasses not helping glare problems.

12. Cataracts

13. Cataract treatment Cataracts can be successfully treated with surgery. Cataract surgery is normally day surgery. The cloudy lens is removed and a replacement clear intraocular lens is inserted into the eye.

14. Diabetic retinopathy Complication of diabetes. Disease of the small blood vessels at the back of the eye (retina). After 20 years of having diabetes most people with diabetes will have some eye changes. Ninety eight per cent of vision loss can be avoided with timely diagnosis and treatment. Other eye conditions such as glaucoma and cataract are more likely in people with diabetes.

15. Diabetic retinopathy Have an eye test at least annually or as advised by your eye specialist. Control your diabetes by maintaining healthy blood sugar blood pressure cholesterol. See your doctor regularly to avoid irreversible damage from diabetic retinopathy. Save Your Sight – Get Tested.

16. Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy can often be treated with laser. The timing of the treatment is critical and will be determined by your ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Often this is needed before vision is noticeably lost. In advanced disease, surgery or injections into the eye may help prevent further vision loss.

17. Vision with diabetic retinopathy Normal eye Diabetic retinopathy

18. Glaucoma Glaucoma is a progressive disease of the optic nerve, it is related to pressure inside the eye. Often no symptoms until advanced stages. Fifty per cent of people with glaucoma do not know that they have it. Vision lost cannot be regained, but further loss can be controlled in many cases.

19. Glaucoma Regular eye examinations with an eye health professional is the best way to detected glaucoma. Save Your Sight – Get Tested. If you have a family history of glaucoma you are at higher risk of the disease. People who suffer from migraine, sleep apnoea, have used steroids or have high refractive error are at risk of glaucoma. Once diagnosed regular follow up with your eye health professional is essential.

20. Glaucoma Treatment for glaucoma aims to reduce the pressure in the eye. This can be achieved by: using drops laser treatment surgery a combination of all of the above. Regular monitoring of this condition is essential for good results.

21. Vision with glaucoma Normal eye Eye with glaucoma

22. Under-corrected and uncorrected refractive error This is a major cause of poor vision. It is correctable with glasses, contact lenses or refractive laser surgery. It is a disorder not a disease. Shortsighted, longsighted, astigmatism and presbyopia are terms used to describe refractive error. Regular eye tests and appropriate correction will prevent vision problems caused by this condition.

23. Vision with under-corrected or uncorrected refractive error Normal visionVision with refractive error

24. Who’s who and how to access services Optometrist – primary eye care provider, no referral necessary and little or no waiting time for an appointment. Most optometry visits are fully covered by Medicare. For more information visit www.optometrists.asn.au Ophthalmologist - specialist eye doctor, referral needed from doctor or optometrist. Some of the fees are covered by Medicare. For more information visit www.ranzco.edu

25. Checking inside the eye

26. Australian College of Optometry (ACO) Carlton Glasses start from around $33.50 for single vision reading or distance glasses and $47.00 for bifocals. Metropolitan locations: Carlton, Broadmeadows, East Preston, Braybrook, Frankston and Doveton. The ACO also has an Outreach Program (aged care facilities, SRS “supported residential services”, disability facilities). The Victorian Aboriginal Health Service operates at Fitzroy. Participating VES private practitioners in country areas are listed at: www.vco.org.au/vco.docs/VESdir.pdf www.vco.org.au/vco.docs/VESdir.pdf And many optometrists in private practice offer generous pensioner discounts and ‘budget package glasses’ at an affordable cost.

27. Glasses and falls - prevention Be careful with new glasses to avoid falling. New glasses can take a while to get used to. People may feel unsteady at first so gradually build up wearing time, and wear in familiar environments (indoors at first). Transition lenses (change colour in the sun) take time to adjust to less light when indoors. Try taking Transition glasses off for a few minutes, or put a chair beside the door to sit while the lenses adjust back to clear.

28. Bifocals and multifocals – falls prevention Bifocals and multifocal glasses can cause blur if looking through the wrong area of the lens. This can cause difficulty going down stairs. Try to move your head and look through the top part of the glasses. Multifocals have a clear zone in the middle of the lens, but not at the edges. You will adapt more easily by moving your head to always look through the center of the glasses.

29. Protect your eyes Sunglasses Safety goggles Hats Sun hats

30. Vision and falls prevention Vision disorders account for approximately three per cent of the burden of disease. People with a vision impairment have: twice as many falls three times the risk of depression and an eight fold increase in the risk of hip fractures. Take care of your eyesight and stop unnecessary falls. Save Your Sight – Get Tested.

31. Vision is precious! To find out more visit www.visioninitiative.org.au For further information contact: Robyn Wallace Vision Initiative Program Coordinator rwallace@vision2020australia.org.au The Vision Initiative would like to acknowledge the Optometrists Association Australia for the development of this presentation. Vision 2020 Australia would like to acknowledge the Victorian Department of Health for funding the Vision Initiative.