Describing the Eye Health of Newly Arrived Refugees in Adelaide, South Australia

Kate Murton (), Antonietta Maldari, Joanne Thomas, Jan Williams, Marcel Nejatian, Hessom Razavi and Lillian Mwanri
Additional contact information
Kate Murton: Refugee Health Service, SA Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Antonietta Maldari: Refugee Health Service, SA Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Joanne Thomas: Refugee Health Service, SA Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Jan Williams: Refugee Health Service, SA Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Marcel Nejatian: Lions Eye Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Hessom Razavi: Lions Eye Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Lillian Mwanri: Research Centre for Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing (PHEHF), Torrens University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: This study describes the eye health of newly arrived refugees attending a state-funded health service in Adelaide, South Australia, helping to address the paucity of data on the eye health of refugees. Patients attending the Refugee Health Service undergo comprehensive assessment by an on-site optometrist with accredited interpreters if they have eye symptoms, personal or family history of eye disease, or visual impairment (using World Health Organization definitions). A retrospective audit of this service was performed to obtain patient demographics, presenting best-corrected distance visual acuity (better-seeing eye), diagnoses, and management. In 2017–2018, 494 of the 1400 refugees attending the service underwent an optometry assessment (age range 1–86 years, mean age 33.1 ± 18.6 years, 53% female). Regions of origin included the Middle East (25%), Bhutan (24%), Afghanistan (22%), Myanmar (15%), and Africa (14%). Of the 124 cases of visual impairment, 78% resolved with corrective lenses and 11% were due to cataracts. Ophthalmology follow-up was required for 56 (11%) patients, mostly for cataracts (22 patients). Newly arrived refugees have high rates of visual impairment from refractive error and cataracts. Integration of optometry and state-based refugee health services may improve the timely detection and treatment of these conditions.

Keywords: refugee; visual impairment; refractive error; eye health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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