Our projects
-The Community Eye Health team at SOVS aims to identify ways to deliver more accessible and equitable eye health services to improve eye health in Aotearoa, particularly for under-served communities.
To do this, we are conducting research – firstly, to understand eye health needs in Aotearoa and, secondly, to develop and test solutions that will address unmet need and improve access to eye health services for everyone living in Aotearoa.
Understanding eye health in Aotearoa
A population-based eye health survey
In July 2021, we began a pilot population-based survey
of adults in three Auckland suburbs (Glen Innes, Panmure and Ōrākei) to inform planning for a larger population-based survey in 2023. Read more…
Exploring differential access to eye health services
Jaymie Rogers is an optometrist, Professional Teaching Fellow and PhD candidate at SOVS. Her PhD uses different methods to draw a picture of access to eye health services in Aotearoa. Read more…
Auckland School Screening Programme
Each year, BOptom students screen school children in the Auckland region for vision issues. A valuable training opportunity for students, the screening service ensures students who need eye care are identified for follow-up. We’ll be providing more about our work to understand the eye health needs of school-age children soon.
Diabetes eye health services
Several projects are underway to increase our understanding of diabetes eye health services – we are analysing national screening and treatment data, assessing screening attendance in Counties Manukau and examining diabetes eye care pathways to understand disconnection from treatment. Read more…
Improving access to eye health services in Aotearoa
Vision Bus Aotearoa
Launched in June 2022, a mobile full-service eye clinic aims to make eye health services more accessible to a range of hard-to-reach or historically under-served communities. Read more…
Community Spectacle Scheme
Established in 2021 to support SOVS Community Eye Health teaching and research activities, the Scheme is part of a wider programme to make eye care more accessible to all New Zealanders. Read more…
Improving equitable access to diabetes eye services
We have received HRC funding (2020-23) to explore how diabetes eye health services can be more accessible and responsive in Auckland and Counties Manukau. Read more…
Establishing an evidence base
While we have unique challenges in Aotearoa, we recognise we can learn from evaluating eye health services in other countries. Read more…