Question

Aboriginal people have a higher chance to have eyes problem than non- indigenous Australians.
Research and give description in your own words, please.

Answer 1

Aboriginal people

Aboriginal people are those who were living in a land before colonization by the Europeans or other foreigners. Aboriginal means 'first aaccording to historical or scientific records' or original, primitive and indigenous.

Aboriginal people ,non- indigenous Australians and their eye problems:

Studies show that Aboriginal Australians are having more problems related to eye or eye disorders when comparing with the non- indigenous Australians, even though the aboriginals are born with better vision. The problems related to eye or vision loss is three times higher in aboriginals and Islanders( Torres strait islanders), when comparing with the non- indigenous Australians. The causes of this increased eye problems and vision loss is due to following reasons;

1. Cataract

2. Trachoma

3. Refractive errors

4. Diabetic retinopathy

1. Cataract

A clouding of the lens in the eye leading to decrease in vision. Prevalence of Cataract related vision loss is 27% in indigenous people whereas in Non indigenous Australians have 12%. Cataract is one of major cause of vision loss in aboriginal people.

2. Trachoma

An infectious disease of the eyelid caused by bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It was one of the main reason for vision loss and blindness in the past years. Because of the preventive measures and health care services from the Government it largely reduced .

3. Refractive errors: Refractive errors that are under noticed or uncorrected was the another reason for aboriginal people's vision loss.Studies show that there is increase in the prevalence rate of refractive errors such as myopia( nearsightedness), hyperopia( longsightedness).

4. Diabetic retinopathy

It is a complication of Diabetes, in which the blood vessels that supplying to retina of the eyes get damaged , leads to blindness. It is one of the leading cause of blindness in aboriginal people. Researches show that 1 out of 10 aboriginal people are having Diabetes , that may get complicated to Diabetic retinopathy.

The factors that leads to the increased rate of eye problems in Aboriginal people are the discrepancies in providing health care services to Aboriginal people including Screening test for refractive errors , cataract, Diabetes and its treatment, Cataract surgery provisions and other health promotion activities like health education. Hesitancy of aboriginal people in reaching to the health care organisation also one of the factor in the high prevalence of eye problems in Aboriginal people , when comparing with the non- indigenous Australians.