Seeing clearly : access to affordable eyecare for low-income Victorians; Changing Pressures

Abstract

Changing

www.bsl.org.au

Pressures

Changing

ISSN 1326 2963

No.13 June 2004

A social action project by the Brotherhood of St Laurence

Seeing clearly

Access to affordable eyecare for low-income Victorians “Because of her circumstance she didn’t want to access the [eyecare] service because she was scared in case it cost her money because she was in debt with regard to accommodation and a few other things.” Welfare worker Inside this issue: What factors limit Victorians’ access to affordable eyecare? What choices are there for low-income Victorians needing affordable spectacles? What place do ‘ready-made’ spectacles have as a low-cost option? What needs to be done to improve eyecare for disadvantaged Victorians?

The authors wish to thank Mitchell Anjou (Victorian College of Optometry, The University of Melbourne), Ben Harris and Kelly Wilsmore (Optometrists Association Australia (Vic. Div.