Community Eye Health
Working towards equityLatest 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
A year on the Vision Bus Aotearoa: and the next stop is…
The Vision Bus Aotearoa (VBA) is an initiative of the School of Optometry and Vision Science that provides comprehensive mobile eye care services to underserved schools, primarily in the South Auckland region. Recently we said farewell (but hopefully not goodbye)...
Four Community Eye Health students complete the first phase of their doctoral studies
As 2024 draws to a close, we’d like to congratulate the four Community Eye Health PhD students who have successfully confirmed their candidature and moved into the next phase of their doctoral studies. During an intensive oral examination, our students demonstrated...
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...
Q&A with Deepa Kumar : Master of Health Science
Deepa is an Optometrist and Clinical Team Leader at Counties Manukau Ophthalmology District Health Board. In 2020, she returned to The University of Auckland to complete her Master’s in Health Science with A/Prof Jacqueline Ramke in the Community Eye Health Team....
“One year in”: A chat with Renata Watene about her experiences in academia
Renata Watene (Ngā Puhi, Tainui) is an Optometrist and advocate of Māori eye healthcare in Aotearoa. In 2023 she began her PhD in the Community Eye Health team, where she is exploring existing Indigenous models of eye care. Here she reflects on the challenges she...
Underserved groups could be better considered in eye health surveys: everyone counts
Key messages: Eye health surveys generate essential information for planning new services. Some surveys specifically target underserved groups (e.g. people living in rural areas), while many exclude some groups (e.g. those without housing). In future, researchers...
Are we blinded by our measures? Refining how we assess diabetic retinopathy services worldwide
PhD candidate Nimisha Chabba from the Community Eye Health team is supporting global efforts to improve eye care by refining the way that diabetic retinopathy services are monitored and reported worldwide. Diabetes is a public health concern, as the number of...
Research about eye health and eye health services in Pacific Island Countries and Territories
Key messages Delivering eye health services in the Pacific Islands is challenging due to the remote location, susceptibility to the impacts of climate change, and economic instability. To direct future eye health research, we have reviewed all available evidence...
About children’s vision screening in Aotearoa
New Zealand children are offered publicly funded vision screening services when they begin school (via the nationwide B4 School Check service) and again in Year 7 (ages 11-12, as part of the Well Child Tamariki Ora Programme). While these screening services are...
Community Eye Health team at Hauora | Health Research Week
In May 2024, the Community Eye Health team took part in the Whakaaturanga Rangahau Wiki Hauora (Health Week Research Expo) at Kia Aroha Campus in South Auckland. Kia Aroha school offers a learning approach that encourages Year 1 to 13 students’ Māori and Pacific...
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:
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- To improve knowledge and understanding of eye health
- To develop and test solutions that may improve access to eye health services
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Study with us: Thinking of pursuing further study or a career in research? We welcome enquiries about postgraduate research with our team. Read more…
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…