The eye health of indigenous people could be vastly improved if state and federal governments kick in $70 million, researchers say.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne say $70 million over five years would be enough to bring indigenous eye health into line with other Australians.
Currently Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are six times more likely to go blind than the mainstream population, with 94 per cent of the vision loss unnecessary, preventable or treatable.
For indigenous people aged in their 80s about 14 per cent are blind, compared to just four per cent for other Australians.
Hugh Taylor, an expert in indigenous eye health who co-authored the report, said that, unlike other medical problems, eye issues could be fixed quickly once treatment is given.
"If you give somebody a pair of glasses they can see right away," Prof Taylor said.
"If you have cataract surgery basically your vision is restored overnight," he said.
Prof Taylor said while some of the money would go towards providing access to ophthalmologists and optometrists, most of it would be used to coordinate and manage eye care so people with problems didn't slip through the cracks.
"We now have the plan and if we have the will and government support we can solve this critical health issue," he said.
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