Lay summary
Blindness and visual impairment disproportionately affect Pacific peoples in Aotearoa. The epidemiology and aetiology of blindness and visual impairment in the Pasifika community is yet to be defined. There is also a lack of understanding on factors that prevent or promote seeking of eye care, attendance to post-surgery check-ups, and treatment compliance after surgeries. Esmeralda Lo Tam is an allied health worker of Samoan descent in Auckland with a strong interest in healthcare equity. She aims to analyse the epidemiology of visual disability from census data, determine the prevalence of common eye problems in the Pasifika community and of keratoconus in high schools by vision screening, and identify barriers and facilitators to eye care seeking and post-procedure attendance and compliance by questionnaires and focus groups. It will help to develop effective screening and support services to reduce the prevalence and impact of blindness and visual impact in Pacific peoples.