Aotearoa New Zealand is embarking on its first national eye health survey. It marks a milestone that will help us understand and prevent vision loss across the country.
The University of Auckland’s Community Eye Health team has launched a population-based study and aims to finish in Q1 of 2026. The study is led by Associate Professor Jacqueline Ramke and aims to reveal who is truly at risk of sight loss. In addition, it will explore how easy or difficult it is for New Zealanders to access the eye care they need.
New Zealand still doesn’t have reliable data on the prevalence and causes of vision loss. As a result, it has been difficult to plan services that reach everyone. This gap has particularly affected Māori, Pacific, and rural communities, who may face extra barriers to care.
The new survey will therefore randomly select several thousand adults from GP enrolment lists. Those selected will come from Counties Manukau, Te Tai Tokerau, Lakes, and Tairāwhiti. Furthermore, NZ Optics reported that a key outcome of interest is the extent to which people can access services within six months. Associate Professor Ramke said, “We will use this information to engage again with community members and service providers to generate recommendations on how services can be more accessible.”
In other words, the clinical findings and community insights will uncover where services are working well. They will also highlight where people are slipping through the cracks. Ultimately, this work can help Aotearoa New Zealand build a fairer, easier-to-access eye care system. It could therefore help reduce preventable blindness for future generations.
In the meantime, Glaucoma NZ welcomes this landmark step toward stronger national data and fairer access to sight-saving care. Looking ahead, researchers, clinicians, and community partners working together is essential.
References:
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Jones, D. (2025, June 17). NZ’s first national eye health survey underway. NZ Optics. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://www.nzoptics.co.nz
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University of Auckland. (2025). Understanding eye health needs in Aotearoa. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://visionresearch.auckland.ac.nz/national-eye-health-survey/
Note: This national eye health survey is among a number of University of Auckland-led studies. The wider project includes research on children’s eye health and improving access to care for people living with hearing, foot, and diabetes-related conditions.