State Budget commits $3.4 million to improve Victoria’s eye health
Victoria’s eye health received a boost yesterday following the commitment by the Victorian State Government to increase the Vision Initiative funding to $3.4 million over four years.
CEO Jennifer Gersbeck said the funding would mean twice as many Victorian communities at risk of blindness and vision loss would now be targeted as part of the program.
“The new funding will see eye health prevention activity rolled out to eight new Local Government Areas by bringing primary health and eye health professionals together to identify those at risk of avoidable blindness and vision loss and encouraging people to have regular eye tests,” Ms Gersbeck said.
“We are pleased the Government has recognised the importance of prevention when it comes to eye health and vision care,” she said.
“Projections show that by 2020 more than 201,000 Victorians will be vision impaired if we don’t take action now. This funding will go a long way in saving the sight of thousands of Victorians.”
The Vision Initiative program has been rolling out a community approach to combating eye conditions and eye disease by working with local eye health and primary health professionals to ensure people with a higher risk of eye disease are detected early.
“Eye tests are critical to healthy eyes and detecting any eye conditions or diseases as early as possible.”
Over the past year, the program has rolled out activity across Darebin, Greater Geelong, Greater Shepparton and Latrobe.