Delivering eye health services
Developing a plan to improve how eye care services are deliveredThe 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. We are working to support policymakers so they can make evidence-informed decisions on how they could best improve eye care services Aotearoa.
Our research
Sensory care services: optometry, audiology, and podiatry
While our research is focused primarily on eye health, we recognise that vision is just one part of a person’s physical well-being. In particular, people with diabetes are more likely to need multiple healthcare services so that their vision, hearing, and feet remain as healthy as possible.
As part of our population-based eye health survey, we are working with health providers from optometry, audiology, podiatry (and beyond) to understand how access to sensory care services could be improved. For example, this could involve offering services at the same location to reduce barriers for patients who need care from multiple providers.
How much would it cost to fund eye care services?
Unlikely similar high-income countries, Aotearoa New Zealand provides very little publicly funded, primary eye care services for older people.
Our ongoing research aims to estimate the cost of funding subsidised eye examinations for people aged 65 or older. To do this we are collaborating with key eye care providers to work out what types of tests and treatments should be included in a standard eye exam, the monetary value of each test, and which follow-up eye tests should be included. We hope the results from this work will be considered to consider eye care within their future healthcare budgets.
Summarising the evidence for eye health inequities in Aotearoa: from 1960 to 2022
Key messages New Zealand has very little evidence describing vision impairment or access to eye care services. Reassuringly, recent studies often compare their findings between Māori and Pacific People and other ethnic groups. The evidence we do have consistently...
Access to eye care in an underserved Auckland suburb: what do the people think?
Key messages Limited evidence exists to describe access to eye care in New Zealand. This research has identified two major barriers that make eye health services inaccessible for some people in Aotearoa: the cost, and the lack of nearby services or transport...
Should Aotearoa New Zealand fund free eye health checks for people over 65?
In 2020, the Government of Aotearoa New Zealand proposed free annual “eye health checks” for New Zealand’s ~700,000 SuperGold card holders aged ≥65 years. To assess the evidence for this policy, we conducted a systematic scoping review of primary eye care services...
Research team
Jacqui Ramke
Associate Professor
Pushkar Silwal
Research Fellow
Jaymie Rogers
PhD candidate
Claire O'Shea
Podiatrist & PhD candidate
Lucy Goodman
Research Fellow
Collaborators
School of Population Health, The University of Auckland:
Associate Professor Matire Harwood, Dr Braden Te Ao
Funding
This research is supported by Blind Low Vision New Zealand, and Health Research Council of New Zealand.