We don't know enough about eye-health in the Pacific

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-07-29 13:09

New Zealand; Pacific

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NZ and Pacific researchers have revealed a worrying lack of data about eye-health in the Pacific islands. Researchers identified 160 papers about eye-health in single Pacific island countries published between 1980 and 2024. They found that sixteen countries were the focus of five or less papers over the 44 year period, five of which were not covered at all. The authors also found that research investigating the leading causes of blindness were lacking, and said that strengthening research capabilities at Pacific institutions could ensure research priorities in eye health are set by Pacific Peoples.

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Research Elsevier, Web page

Journal/
conference: The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Auckland, Fiji National University (FNU), The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, Pacific Eye Institute Fiji, National Prevention of Blindness Committee PNG, International Centre for Eye Health UK, Ebeye Hospital

Funder: The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand. LH is a Rutherford Postdoctoral Research Fellow, receiving funding from the Royal Society Te Apārangi (19-UOA-028) and School of Medicine Foundation (M-FMH-MGUP). PS is supported by The Buchanan Charitable Foundation New Zealand.

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