About us

In 2020 I was awarded the University of Auckland Senior Health Research Scholarship to complete my PhD on inequities in eye care access with a particular focus on Māori and Pacific people in Auckland. I hope my research will be used to plan equitable eye care services for all New Zealanders.

Deborah Ewuru is a Nigerian-trained Optometrist, with an interest in equity and vision impairment. During her PhD, she will play a key role in collecting data in the field during our population-based eye health survey.

I am a Dispensing Optician and Professional Teaching Fellow on the Vision Bus Aotearoa dispensing glasses to children. My interests lie in childhood myopia and I have begun a Master of Health Science investigating how well children adapt and adhere to glasses designed to slow myopia progression, and the barriers to full time wear.

I joined SOVS in 2021 as a Community Coordinator following completion of my Masters in Public Health focused on Pacific Health. Our pilot population-based study uncovered a large unmet need for eye care in our Pacific Community and I look forward to working with the Community Eye Health Team to make eye care more accessible in Aotearoa.

I completed my PhD in Physiology in 2015. Since then, I have developed interests in science writing and communication, and vision research. I enjoy collating and synthesising complex information and I hope to apply these skills to new projects within the Community Eye Health team.

I am a researcher in health management with knowledge of the health economy and the integration of the healthcare system. I enjoy working with multidisciplinary research teams to improve health system performance. I have recently developed an interest in diabetic eye care, and I hope to make a meaningful contribution to the community eye care team.

I am an optometrist passionate about promoting vision health both globally and within my local community. I’ve had the privilege of contributing to volunteer initiatives in Nepal, Tanzania, Mongolia, and the Pacific region. Presently, I  work in private practice and serve as a Professional Teaching Fellow aboard the Vision Bus Aotearoa. Our mission is to tackle disparities in eye health by offering eye exams to children in need.

I am an optometrist with previous experience working in remote aboriginal communities in Western Australia. Currently, I’m a Professional Teaching Fellow on the Vision Bus Aotearoa. The Vision Bus is a mobile optometry clinic that aims to address inequity in eye health by making sure children can see clearly at school so that they can seek higher education.