Prevalence and causes of blindness in Australian aborigines

A descriptive epidemiological survey of monocular and binocular blindness in Australian Aborigines was undertaken. A case-control study was also performed using age and sex matched sighted controls to allow investigation of personal and environmental factors which may contribute to blindness. The prevalence rate of binocular blindness in the Australian Aboriginal males and females was 11/1000; and the monocular blindness rates were 24/1000 for males and 18/1000 for females. The prevalence of blindness was strongly age-related; over the age of 60 years, 21.5% of males and 17.5% of females were binocularly blind, and 25.5% of males and 18.5% of females were monocularly blind. Half of the blindness was caused by cataracts, one-third by corneal disease, and one-twelfth by the loss of the globe. Trachoma and trauma were positively associated with blindness. Employment seemed to reduce the likelihood of blindness, with the exception of the Aboriginal males who had been employed as stockmen and who had a high rate of blindness. Less than 10% of blindness was attributable to degenerative or retinal disorders.