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Why is 90% of blindness in Australia is preventable?

Your Vision & Hearing Health | March 26, 2026
Tags Vision

That figure comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey and it is one of the most important statistics in eye health.* 

 

Over 13 million Australians are currently living with one or more chronic eye health conditions, including macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. These conditions can have a profound impact on quality of life and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. 

 

Yet around 90% of the blindness and vision impairment caused by these conditions is preventable, or treatable, if detected early enough. 

 

The catch? Most of these conditions produce no noticeable symptoms until significant, irreversible damage has already occurred.

 

Why are so many eye diseases going undetected? 

The three most common causes of serious vision loss in Australia (glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy) share one characteristic: they are largely silent in their early stages. 

Glaucoma is a clear example. An estimated 300,000 Australians have glaucoma, but around 50% do not know it yet.† It is a blinding disease that develops slowly, damaging the optic nerve over time without producing pain or obvious vision changes until the disease is already well advanced. 

Diabetic retinopathy presents a similar challenge. Around 38% of type 2 diabetic patients already show some level of retinal damage at the time of their diabetes diagnosis.‡  

What does ‘preventable’ actually mean? 

Preventable does not mean these conditions can always be cured. What it means is that with early detection, the damage can be managed, slowed, or treated before it reaches the point of permanent, significant vision loss. 

The window for effective intervention is real but it requires catching these conditions early. 

Can technology detect eye damage early? 

Two eyecare technologies are used to detect vision changes early at George & Matilda practices. 

  • OCT scans Optical Coherence Tomography) are the Gold Standard for detecting and managing eye diseases including macular degeneration and glaucoma. They produce a 3D image of the innermost layers of the eye, allowing analysis similar to an ultrasound. OCT imaging is safe, non-invasive, and comfortable, and remarkable progress has been made in recent years to both its speed and accuracy.

 

  • Ultra-widefield (UWF) digital retinal scans use optomap technology to capture up to a 200-degree view of the retina in crystal-clear detail, in under half a second. Most do not require eye drops. This panoramic image gives optometrists important clinical data to detect retinal eye diseases early and accurately, including diabetic retinopathy, which can appear at the edges of the retina where traditional photography often does not reach. 

What should I expect at a comprehensive eye exam at George & Matilda? 

At George & Matilda practices, our optometrists spend more time with you to understand your lifestyle and eye health. As part of your comprehensive eye test, this may include an eye scan. Our optometrist will capture, interpret, and discuss these eyecare scans and images with you. Putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do and that includes being open and transparent about what the scans show and what they mean for your long-term eye health. 

Medicare will cover part of your comprehensive consultation. For certain Advanced Eyecare Technology tailored to your individual needs, there may be a small out-of-pocket gap. Your optometrist will always discuss any costs with you before proceeding and will recommend only what is most beneficial for your long-term vision and wellbeing.

* Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018-2019 National Health Survey 

† Glaucoma Australia (glaucoma.org.au) 

‡ Statistics of Optical Coherence Tomography Data From Human Retina, Grzywacz et al. (2010)