Read about the latest advancements at the School of Optometry and Vision Science

Dear Colleagues

Welcome to the August issue of our newsletter for 2019.

Sadly, Friday 2 August is the last working day for the University of Auckland Clinics manager, Jenny Ritson. Jenny has worked tremendously hard ensuring the smooth running of the optometry clinic being, for example, instrumental in boosting patient numbers at Grafton to compensate for the closure of the Tamaki site. Given that she is responsible for all UoA clinics we are extremely grateful to Jenny for always going the extra mile for optometry! Jenny has been very successful in a challenging role and we wish her a wonderful (and well-deserved) retirement.

Congratulations to Carrie Burgess who secured her Masters of Science in Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences in Upper Austria with highest distinction. Well done Carrie! In other research news, this month SOVS was visited by Dr Lisa Ostrin from the College of Optometry at the University of Houston. Lisa gave us a fascinating talk on the impact of blue light on myopia and sleep. Lisa’s focus is on the potential role of intrinsically photosensitive gangion cells – neurons in the eye that respond directly to light rather than being driven by photoreceptors – in these processes.

This newsletter features:

• News about the new NZAO Higher Degree Research Write-Up Scholarship 2019
• A description of the recent MASH visit to the school by year 12 Māori students
• Ehsan’s perspective on “Developing AI for Eye Health”
• Jo Black & Jason Turuwhenua’s project collaborating between nursing and optometry to support better health and vision for Māori and Pacific students
• A report from the Association for the Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC) in London, Ontario

Regards,

Professor Steven Dakin
Head of School, Optometry and Vision Science
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences