All eyes on mobile optometry clinic

Since 2022, Vision Bus Aotearoa has delivered fully funded eye examinations and glasses to underserved communities. Primarily visiting schools in South Auckland, it mitigates issues of access and affordability faced by many children. The service has also supported marae and refugee communities, with plans to expand its reach through partnerships with rural health programmes.

Led by the School of Optometry and Vision Science, the initiative is overseen by Dr Joanna Black, who says it “provides a vital community service by delivering mobile eye care to those who need it most, primarily school children”.

The need for these services is significant, she adds, because “there is no public funding for the majority of the population when it comes to primary, community-based eye care”.

This year’s digital Giving Day is supported by a generous matched gift from the Blake Family, given in memory of George Cox – a pioneer of optometry in New Zealand whose mission was to deliver eye care to communities in need. Vision Bus Aotearoa was first brought to life through philanthropic funding from the Fehl Charitable Trust, and further supported with funding from the Buchanan Charitable Trust and the Blake Family, alongside a prescription lens subsidy from Essilor.

The matched gift aims to encourage additional donations of all sizes to enable the bus to expand its work, which includes visits to around 20 schools per year with up to 1,000 comprehensive eye examinations provided. Findings reveal that approximately seven out of ten children seen on the bus will need glasses to see clearly, with many unaware their vision is reduced. Other serious eye conditions, including amblyopia (lazy eye), keratoconus and allergic eye disease, have been detected through the bus’s work.

Currently routine vision screening does not identify many of these issues – but early detection is essential for children’s overall development, explains Joanna.

“We know that having clear vision is really important for early literacy and learning. If vision conditions aren’t detected in those first few years of school, children are much more likely to become disengaged from their education.”

Beyond clinical care, the bus is also shaping the future workforce. Bachelor of Optometry students in their final year of study are placed on the bus, where they gain hands-on experience delivering care in a supervised setting, preparing them for real-world practice. By working directly in schools, the programme also helps inspire the next generation with the hope of increasing Māori and Pacific representation in the profession. 

Vision Bus Aotearoa relies on philanthropic support to continue delivering its comprehensive services, which are key in bolstering community health, education and awareness for those who need it most.

“Support this Giving Day will help us expand our reach, train the next generation of optometrists, and strengthen community education, empowering communities and raising awareness around eye health,” says Joanna.