28/12/2025
Family vows to continue fighting NDIS after boy, 8, has prosthetic eye funding cut
An eight-year-old boy born without eyes has suffered a new blow in his NDIS funding fight for prosthetic eyes, despite bureaucrats acknowledging he needs them.
Leo Hall, 8, who was born with no eyes and tiny eye sockets, is seeking around $13,500 a year for two pairs of expandable artificial eyes.
The prosthetics are essential for supporting his bone structure so his face grows “normally”, and they also help when it comes to socialising with other children.
The NDIS has funded his eyes since he was five years old.
But at his last plan review, his funding was denied.
In October 2024, new NDIS Support lists were introduced giving greater clarity to what the scheme will fund.
The federal government says some previously funded supports deleted from the list should fall under health and therefore be funded by the state and territories.
Leo’s mum Lauren, 34, from Brisbane, said they will fight the NDIA’s decision at an independent tribunal. They previously took their claim to the tribunal and won. However, that was before the new list was drawn up.
The other option is to fight for funding from the health authorities in Queensland.
She said it was galling that in the letter she received it appeared that the reason why the funding was rejected was down to a technical issue.
The letter states, “while the supporting evidence provided identifies a need for ocular prosthesis, it does not include details from a treating ophthalmologist regarding the specific prosthesis required, nor a prescription or assessment from a qualified professional trained to provide a prosthetic eye, the NDIS is unable to confirm the suitability of the requested ocular prosthesis.”
Ms Hall questioned why the internal review team didn’t ask her for the additional information before closing the case.
She said it was also bizarre that the letter states needing details of the prescription, because artificial eyes cannot help someone see.
“They asked for his prescription, which is totally ridiculous,” Ms Hall said.
“I definitely feel the NDIS makes this process as hard as physically possible in the hope that people just give up.
“I’m well educated and determined to see this through.
“It shouldn’t have to be a fight for the most basic essentials that is obviously needed as a direct result of his disability. I’m too deep in this to give up now.
“That would be letting the NDIS get away with misinformed and incorrect decisions that have very real impacts on people’s lives.”
Tribunals can take more than two years to conclude and can be a costly exercise, with the NDIA, under pressure to reduce the spiralling $1 billion a week scheme, regularly hiring external barristers to take on participants.
A spokesman from the NDIA said NDIS supports need to be approved in line with the NDIS Act, and ocular prosthesis is generally considered a medical device.
“Medical treatments and devices fall outside what the scheme can fund and is best delivered through the health system,’ he said.
“The agency acknowledges the difficult circumstances for Leo and his family, and we are committed to supporting Leo with the disability-related supports he requires.”