Dr Joanna Black

Dr Joanna Black is an optometrist and researcher specialising in vision conditions that occur during development.

Dr Black is an optometrist and researcher specialising in vision conditions that occur during development such as amblyopia or ‘lazy eye’, refractive error and binocular vision disorders. Her research is clinically based and tries to identify ways to make vision treatments more accessible for children and families.

Dr Black is a senior lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science (University of Auckland), where she teaches undergraduate optometry students and supervises postgraduate research students.



Questions and Answers with

Dr Joanna Black

Learn More

Q&A with

Dr Joanna Black

What drives you to continue your pursuit in child health research?

I am inspired in my research work by the children and families that I work with. Having clear vision is very important during development and kids are often unaware that they can’t see as well as others. My research is based around trying to improve ways of detecting/treating vision conditions in children.

What does Cure Kids Funding mean to you?

The funding we have received from Cure Kids is greatly valued as it will allow us to explore a new research idea.  It also validates the significance of the research we are doing and the impact this may have in New Zealand.  In addition it is great to join the other researchers supported by Cure Kids who also aim to improve the lives of New Zealand children.

Talk us through a typical day

I have two pre-school children, so most days begin early.  After school/kindy drop-off my days are usually a mix of developing research ideas, teaching in lectures/labs, clinical/research work in the eye clinic and meetings with students and colleagues.  My evenings are usually at home spending time with the family.

Tell us something interesting about you?

I love Christmas  - some might call me a Christmas fanatic. I was born and raised in Canada and miss both the snow and the over the top festivities that occur in the northern hemisphere at Christmas (what else is there to do in the middle of a long cold winter!). I have lots of decorations and lights at my house for the month of December.



Research Projects

Supporting eyewear compliance for amblyopia

Cure Kids is assisting Dr Black’s work by funding the development and…


The kids who inspire this research

Iziyah

Iziyah is diagnosed with a rare immune disorder called Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)

Learn More

Lukas

Leaving neonatal care, Lukas failed a hearing test and was later diagnosed with high…

Learn More

Mykal

Mykal has spastic dystonic quadriplegia (cerebral palsy) and has had too many surgeries to count…

Learn More