A female optometrist tests the refractive error of a female patient

Community Eye Health

Working towards equity

Latest updates

We want everyone living in Aotearoa to have good eye health. Good eye health supports overall health and wellbeing and enables participation with whānau, in the community, at school and at work.

Our work aims to identify ways to deliver more accessible and equitable eye health services and improve eye health in Aotearoa, particularly for under-served communities.

We are committed to Māori health advancement and are guided by Māori health researchers and service providers in the planning and implementation of our research programme.

Across all our activities, we value opportunities to work with communities and other stakeholders who are interested in achieving equity in eye health in Aotearoa.

Associate Professor Matire Harwood shares some thoughts on eye health services in Aotearoa
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How to look after your eyes

How to look after your eyes

Everyday activities such as reading and playing are much more fun if you can see well! For adults and kaumātua, good eyesight means you can work, drive a car, and look after your whānau. Here are some tips for looking after your eyesight. Feel free to download our...

A pair of hands presenting a pair of glass
Through the looking glass: ideas to improve access to spectacles in the Western Pacific: a closer look at Australasia

Through the looking glass: ideas to improve access to spectacles in the Western Pacific: a closer look at Australasia

Key messages: Countries concerned with eye health should consider strategies to improve access to spectacles. In Australia and New Zealand, eye health experts identified Indigenous people as the population group to be prioritized in efforts to improve access to...

Our work

The overarching aim of our work is to collate evidence that can be used to improve eye care services in New Zealand.

Our two main objectives are:

    • To improve knowledge and understanding of eye health
    • To develop and test solutions that may improve access to eye health services
Two female recruiters walk down a street

Population health survey: We will soon be conducting a multi-disciplinary population health survey that aims to improve access to health services for adults living with eye, hearing, or foot problems, particularly if they also have diabetes. Read more…

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Children’s vision survey: We are visiting schools and delivering eye examinations so that we can estimate how many primary school children in Aotearoa New Zealand need eye care services. Read more… 

A van with Aotearoa Vison Bus and pictures of smiling people in a clinic

Vision Bus Aotearoa: Launched in June 2022, a mobile full-service eye clinic aims to make eye care services more accessible to a range of historically underserved communities. Read more…

Te Whare Piringa - eye testing at a community centre

Access to diabetes eye services: We are exploring how diabetes eye care services can be more accessible and responsive in Auckland and Counties Manukau.  Read more…

Photo by Marek Okon on Unsplash

Eye health in the Pacific: Our aim is to understand the eye health needs of the people living in Aotearoa New Zealand and our neighbouring Pacific Islands. Read more

Photo by David Travis on Unsplash

Delivering new eye care services: The overarching aim of our research is to strengthen the ways that eye care services are delivered in Aotearoa so that more people can access the care that they need. Read more

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Reviewing the evidence: A key part of our work involves sharing our information so that it can be used by policy makers and the community. Visit our resources page for some easy-to-digest summaries of our work.

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Study with us: Thinking of pursuing further study or a career in research? We welcome enquiries about postgraduate research with our team. Read more…

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How to look after your eyes: A good life starts with good eyesight. Download our eye health resources to share with your friends, whanau, or community.  Read more…