A/Prof Turnbull leads the Virtual Eyes Lab, whose research spans three core pillars:
Developing and evaluating virtual reality applications for optometry education and clinical training to enhance real-world learning outcomes.
Exploring eye tracking technology to understand visual behaviour, support clinical diagnosis, and build assistive tech.
Applying machine learning to retinal imaging, disease prediction, and clinical decision support to improve outcomes.
Investigating eye tracking and oculomotor function to objectively classify and manage mild traumatic brain injuries.
Researching management strategies and evaluating clinical interventions to address the growing global myopia epidemic.
Researching modern lifestyle impacts, like contact lens wear and screen time, on tear film stability.
Investigating optometry practice evolution, workforce dynamics, and advising on standards within Aotearoa.
Conducting eye health surveys to identify underserved populations and target systemic care delivery inequities.
See details of research outputs, including journal articles, conference papers, policy papers, and collaborative works.
View PublicationsAs an educator, I teach and examine both undergraduate and postgraduate optometry students. I am the Part II coordinator for the Bachelor of Optometry programme, and course director of OPTOM216 – Introduction to Optometry. I also act as both a clinical and oral examiner for Part V students, and teach statistics and research skills as part of the OPTOM783 – Research Project in Vision Science.
Each year I supervise many Honours, Masters, and PhD students in a broad range of research areas, and I remain available to take on new Masters and PhD projects.
Coordinating the Bachelor of Optometry Part II programme and directing OPTOM216 – Introduction to Optometry, ensuring a strong foundational curriculum for early-stage students.
Acting as a clinical and oral examiner for Part V optometry students during their final-year assessments, maintaining rigorous standards for clinical competency.
Teaching advanced statistics and research methodologies within OPTOM783 – Research Project in Vision Science, equipping the next generation of researchers with critical analytical skills.
Developing and integrating the Virtual Patient platform to provide immersive, interactive, and scalable clinical learning experiences that bridge theory and practice. This approach combines digital simulation, case-based teaching, and evidence-based clinical reasoning to create more engaging and accessible learning for optometry students.
Providing external review and auditing services for international optometry programmes to ensure academic rigour, clinical teaching standards, and programmatic excellence.
Serving as an external examiner for international PhD and Masters theses across optometry and vision science, supporting high-quality research training and graduate outcomes.
Measurement of eye movements in three-dimensional space
Oculomotor Function, Attentional Function, Trans-Saccadic Processing and Visual Perception in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease
Home-Based Monitoring of Visual Function in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Exploring the influence of eyelid and blink characteristics on dry eye development
The effect of optical defocus on choroidal thickness
Development of objective techniques of the optometric examination
Eye movements and postural stability following traumatic brain injury
Developing Eye Tracking Technology using a mobile device for the use of optokinetic assessment
The Effect of Blue Light on Myopia Progression in Young Smartphone Users
Dry eye in younger populations
Maritime visual standards
Treatments for AMD
I provide advisory services to professional organisations, regulatory bodies, and healthcare providers to advance optometry practice and education standards.
Advising the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board on regulatory standards, continuing education requirements, and professional development frameworks.
Contributing to the development of vision standards for government and non-government agencies, ensuring rigorous and evidence-based visual standards and assessments.
Providing objective expert opinions and scientific testimony on optometry-related matters in complex legal cases and professional disciplinary disputes.
Developing robust policies and evidence-based best practice guidelines for optometry education and clinical practice, both in New Zealand and internationally.
Serving as Associate Editor for Clinical and Experimental Optometry, managing peer review and contributing to the dissemination of impactful vision science research.
I'm always interested in discussing how my expertise can help your organisation or research initiatives, and I'm available for advisory or expert witness engagements when those conversations extend into regulatory or clinical practice questions.
Contact PhilipExplore my research publications across vision science, optometry, and related fields.
This paper examines how choroidal blood flow is regulated across distinct vascular layers during altitude-related changes in oxygen availability. It highlights layer-specific mechanisms that help the eye maintain adequate circulation and visual performance in changing environmental conditions.
This review maps the evolving global scope of optometric glaucoma care across Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It shows a broad shift from case-finding toward diagnostic and therapeutic management, while highlighting persistent barriers such as regulatory restrictions, uneven funding, equipment limitations, and training variation. The paper argues that addressing these system constraints is essential if optometrists are to expand sustainable access to glaucoma care.
APA String Format:
Denniss, J., Barrett, B. T., Cheloni, R., Gunn, P. J. G., Harper, R. A., MacIver, S., McKendrick, A. M., Ocansey, S., Turnbull, P. R. K., & Flanagan, J. G. (2026). Global scope of glaucoma clinical practice for optometrists. Optometry and Vision Science, 103(7), e70088. https://doi.org/10.1002/ovs2.70088
This study examines optometrists' attitudes toward expanding scope of practice to include intravitreal injections in Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings identify key enablers and barriers, including training pathways, governance, and confidence in shared-care delivery. The paper provides practical direction for workforce planning and service models aimed at improving access to timely retinal care.
APA String Format:
Turnbull, P. R. K., Acosta, M. L., Lee, A., & Solanki, B. (2026). Optometrist attitudes towards delivering intravitreal injections in Aotearoa New Zealand. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2026.2652580
This narrative review synthesises multidisciplinary team-based care models that include optometrists across Australia and New Zealand. It highlights recurring implementation challenges around role clarity, referral pathways, funding settings, and interprofessional communication. The synthesis outlines system-level considerations for scaling collaborative care while maintaining quality and equitable access.
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Huang-Lung, J., Kumaran, S., Turnbull, P. R. K., Webber, A. L., Rhee, J., Barr, M., Ramke, J., & Keay, L. J. (2026). Models of multidisciplinary team-based care involving optometrists in Australia and New Zealand: narrative review and synthesis of implementation issues. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2026.2624750
This case report tracks objective oculomotor outcomes across three timepoints in mild traumatic brain injury. Serial measurements show how eye-movement metrics can capture dynamic recovery patterns that may not be evident on routine assessment alone. The report supports the potential value of oculomotor markers as practical adjuncts for monitoring mTBI progression.
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Cade, A., Stevens, K., & Turnbull, P. R. K. (2026). Objective oculomotor markers of mTBI: a three-timepoint case report. Brain Injury, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2026.2651864
This study utilised OCT to demonstrate that local cooling of the anterior eye via the eyelid causes a small but statistically significant increase in macular choroidal thickness. These findings suggest that the choroid plays a rapid thermoregulatory role and highlight environmental temperature as a confounding factor that must be controlled in clinical myopia research.
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Khanal, S., Turnbull, P. R. K., Kim, L., & Phillips, J. R. (2025). Response of the human choroid to short-term changes in eyelid and periocular temperature. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 108(5), 578-584. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2024.2377391
An analysis of a decade of professional data reveals that NZ optometrists have safely issued over half a million prescriptions, primarily for glaucoma and dry eye. The report advocates for the further expansion of the optometric scope into intravitreal injections and laser procedures to improve national eye care equity and reduce hospital waitlists.
APA String Format:
Turnbull, P. R. K., Park, I., & Johnson, R. (2025). The expanding scope of the Aotearoa New Zealand optometric workforce. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 108, 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2025.2460609
This audit found that university-based training clinics are less accessible to people living in high-deprivation areas, who often travel the furthest for care. It recommends increasing funding for community outreach and mobile eye clinics to foster equity and provide diverse clinical training for future optometrists.
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Goodman, L. K., Zhao, J., Lee, A., Han, L., Rogers, J. T., Phillips, G., Turnbull, P. R. K., & Ramke, J. (2026). A baseline audit of the population groups accessing optometry training clinics in Aotearoa New Zealand: looking towards equity in eye care. Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 109, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2024.2433597
A systematic review of global surveys found that while participation is generally high, it is declining in high-income nations. The study highlights that gender balance is more equitable in high-income settings, whereas women are more likely to participate in lower-income regions.
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Goodman, L., Turnbull, P., McCormick, I., Ewuru, D., Evans, J. R., Burton, M. J., & Ramke, J. (2025). Participation in population-based eye health surveys is lower but more gender-balanced in high-compared to low-and middle-income countries. Wellcome Open Research, 10, 203. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23976.1
Published in IOVS, this study investigated how various soft contact lens materials disrupt the stability of the tear film lipid layer. The research identifies material-specific impacts that can inform the selection of lenses for patients prone to dryness and discomfort.
APA String Format:
Craig, J. P., Bandamwar, K., Kang, E., Li, F., & Turnbull, P. R. K. (2025). The impact of soft contact lens wear on tear film lipid layer characteristics. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 66(8), 5622-5622. https://doi.org/10.1016/0892-8967(96)88963-2
For collaboration opportunities, supervision enquiries, or professional engagements, please send a message below or use direct contact details.
School of Optometry and Vision Science
University of Auckland
85 Park Road, Grafton
Auckland 1023, New Zealand