title: Recruitment and Testing Protocol in the National Eye Health Survey: A Population-Based Eye Study in Australia.
abstract: To present the recruitment and testing methodology of the National Eye Health Survey (NEHS), a population-based study that aimed to determine the prevalence and causes of vision impairment and blindness in Australia.
  
  
  
  Non-Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and older and Indigenous Australians aged 40 years and older were recruited using a door-to-door approach from 30 randomly selected geographical areas, stratified by remoteness. Participants underwent a vision examination, anterior segment assessment, intraocular pressure testing, perimetry, and fundus photography.
  
  
  
  In total, recruiters approached 23,235 residences, and 11,883 residents were successfully contacted (51.1%). Of these, 6760 (56.9%) were deemed eligible and 5764 agreed to participate (positive response rate = 85.3%). Of those who agreed, 4836 residents attended the examination (4836/6760 = 71.5%). This included 1738 Indigenous Australians (41.1% male) aged 40-92 years (mean ± standard deviation = 55.0 ± 10.0 years) and 3098 non-Indigenous Australians (46.4% male), aged 50-98 years (mean ± standard deviation = 66.6 ± 9.7 years).
  
  
  
  The NEHS achieved an excellent positive response rate, and the data collected from 4836 Australians will provide the first population-based national estimate of the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness. This data will guide future economic analysis, policy formulation, and eye health service delivery in Australia.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Eye Research Australia , Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|b Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne , Department of Surgery , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foreman
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Eye Research Australia , Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|b Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne , Department of Surgery , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keel
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Eye Research Australia , Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|b Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne , Department of Surgery , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Wijngaarden
authors.affiliation: c Indigenous Eye Health Unit , Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Hugh R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Eye Research Australia , Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.|b Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne , Department of Surgery , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dirani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Blindness; methodology; prevalence; survey; vision impairment