Aboriginal people suffer 10 times the rate of blindness and also attend eye care practitioners in far lower numbers than other members of the Australian population.

In a highly successful initiative designed to combat this problem in NSW, ICEE in partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AHMRC) have set up eye care clinics in Aboriginal Medical Services and other Aboriginal community controlled facilities throughout the State.

These clinics are providing eyecare and vision correction, including spectacles and other optical aids, to thousands of people.

ICEE professor Brian Layland said, "lack of available and affordable eyecare can cause blindness, limiting the education, employment and quality of life of otherwise healthy people.

"In many cases all patients are in need of is a correct pair of glasses.

"We want to get the word out that eyecare is important and available through Aboriginal Medical Services."

ICEE has conducted educational programs to increase health awareness among the Aboriginal population and Aboriginal eye health workers. It is the hope of the organisers and optometrists working at these clinics that more Aboriginal people will use the service provided and have regular eye examinations.

The effectiveness of the program to date is evidenced by the increased use of the NSW Government Spectacle scheme by Aboriginal people.

One of the particular targets of the eye clinics is diabetes. Diabetes and associated eye disease has a high prevalence amongst the Aboriginal population. People with diabetes are at risk of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, but regular eye checks and treatment can prevent vision loss.

To find out more about the eyecare clinics in Lightning Ridge contact Carol Simon at the Community Health Service on 6829 1022.