In 2020, the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand proposed free annual “eye health checks” for New Zealand’s ~700,000 SuperGold card holders aged ≥65 years. To assess the evidence for this policy, we conducted a systematic scoping review of primary eye care services in Aotearoa New Zealand and ten similar high-income countries. We found that most of the countries included in the review provided subsidised eye examinations for older people. New Zealand was the only country that did not provide any eye care services for older people.
Read the published research paper and a policy brief describing the implications of this research.
Citation: Goodman L, Hamm L, Tousignant B, et al. Primary eye health services for older adults as a component of universal health coverage: a scoping review of evidence from high income countries. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;35:100560. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100560
Funding: Blind Low Vision New Zealand.