New research into community perceptions of eye health in Australia and Asia Pacific (APAC) has found that nearly two-thirds of Australians aged 40 years and over fear losing their independence.1 Additionally, a quarter worry that vision impairment will leave them socially isolated.1
Undertaken by Roche, the APAC Vision Health Survey polled 4,354 people aged ≥40 across eight countries in Asia Pacific, including 502 people in Australia. The aim was to better understand attitudes to eye health and vision impairment – defined as significant or permanent loss of vision.2
The survey revealed that the fear of losing independence due to vision impairment is far higher in Australia (62.9%) than Asia Pacific (39.1%), with similar differences in the number of people concerned about becoming socially isolated due to impaired vision (24% in Australia vs 14.4% in Asia Pacific).1,2
The APAC Vision Health Survey also found that in Australia:
• 93% of respondents incorrectly consider visual impairment to be an inevitable part of ageing.
• 75.9% of respondents are concerned about their current eye health; 67.8% foresee difficulties in performing daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning due to vision impairment.
• Almost four in 10 (37.8%) respondents expect vision impairment to limit their ability to maintain employment, while 26.2% believe it would impact their financial wellbeing.
• Almost nine in 10 (87.1%) caregivers (n=78) for people with vision impairment report facing significant challenges, including balancing caregiving with other responsibilities, exhaustion, and financial burden.
• One in five (19.3%) respondents living with diabetes (n=207) do not receive annual eye examinations. This is despite nearly three in five (57.1%) of these Australians currently experiencing symptoms of visual impairment.
• Most respondents are not familiar with retinal diseases that can potentially cause blindness, such as retinal vein occlusion. This lack of understanding of this common condition was significantly more pronounced in Australia than in other parts of Asia Pacific (74.1% vs 58.8% respectively).1,2
Professor Andrew Chang AM, vitreoretinal surgeon and Head of Ophthalmology at the Sydney Eye Hospital, Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society, and member of the APAC Vision Health Survey Steering Committee, described the survey insights as “eye-opening, revealing unmet needs for patients and their communities that are highly significant for Australian and Asia-Pacific eye care practitioners and policymakers”.
“The survey provides important insights into what patients, would-be patients, and carers are thinking, what their fears are, and how we may need to support them.
“It’s important that ophthalmic teams understand what lies behind the eyes of their patients. There is often a great deal of fear, anxiety, and misunderstanding,” he said.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE
Prof Chang called for vision care to be better integrated into the general healthcare system.
“There is an urgent need and a clear opportunity to develop more effective approaches to eye health that integrate vision care into existing healthcare frameworks, such as diabetes management and aged care,” said Prof Chang.
“At least 90% of vision impairments can be prevented or treated.3 We need to raise awareness of the importance of early screening, particularly in high-risk patient groups.”
SURVEY FILLS KNOWLEDGE VOID
General Manager of Roche Products Australia, Dr Nic Horridge, said the survey was undertaken in response to clinician feedback on the lack of community understanding of eye disease and preventative vision care.
“Despite our research revealing significant concern over vision impairment, we know that preventive vision care is often neglected.4 It is critical that we understand what motivates and drives people to prioritise their eye health,” he said.
“We hope this research provides the ophthalmic community with a platform to advocate for early detection, preventive care, and system change to counter vision impairment in Australia’s ageing population.”
The survey findings were presented as an e-poster at the 25th EURETINA Congress, which took place in Paris from 4–7 September 2025. Additionally, Professor Chang presented the findings at the APAC Roche Ophthalmology Week (AROW) meeting in Melbourne in September.
References available at mivision.com.au.