Dr Ngozi Chidi-Egboka
Save Sight Institute
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Dr Ngozi Chidi-Egboka is a therapeutically trained optometrist, an academic, and a researcher in eye care and public health. Her clinical practice, teaching, research, and leadership activities center around improving the delivery of eye health clinical care with a key interest in anterior eye health, specifically ocular surface health and dry eye disease. Dr. Chidi-Egboka has a strong record of developing her clinical and research skills by obtaining her Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry, Fellowship of the Nigerian College of Optometrists, by completing a Residency in Cornea and Contact Lenses and Science Communication Training Fellowship of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
Dr Chidi-Egboka conducts basic and clinical research in the areas ofanterior eye health, specifically ocular surface health and dry eye disease, blinking and the impact of digital screen us on ocular health aimed towards the following research goals:
• Identify, define, and enhance the quality of clinical eye research
• Develop advanced methods for improving learning in eye health research and therapeutics
• Understanding environmental and lifestyle effects on eye health
• Promote communication and commercialisation of translational eye research, the relevance, and societal impact from clinical, academic, and industry perspectives
Optometry, Ophthalmology and Public Health
1. Save Sight Dry Eye Registry
2. Developing Guidelines for Topical Ciclosporin use in Ocular Surface Disease
Cochrane Collaboration, United Kingdom
University of New South Wales Alumni
Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society
Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
American Academy of Optometry
Australia Biotechnology
Faculty of Cornea and Contact Lenses, Nigerian College of Optometrists
Nigerian Optometric Association
2023 UNSW Sydney Medicine and Health Faculty The Brian Kirby Prize
In recognition of Research Excellence in Optometry and top performance in 2022.
2022 UNSW Sydney Dean’s Excellent Thesis Award
For Outstanding PhD thesis ranked by two independent international examiners as within the top 10% of thesis ever examined.
2022 UNSW Sydney HDR Completion Scholarship
Supported by Commonwealth’s contribution under Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
2022 Student travel award, International Society for Contact Lens Research
Paper presentation titled “Blinking: a rapid, responsive and repeatable biomarker of ocular surface homeostasis during contact lens wear?”.
2021 Faculty of Medicine and Health – Support Scholarship, UNSW Sydney
2021 AAO Foundation’s Clinical Investigator Certification Program Scholarship
2021 Student travel grant, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Foundation
Paper presentation titled “One hour of smartphone use induces ocular discomfort and reduces blinking in children”.
2020 UNSW Sydney Postgraduate Research Student Support Award
Paper presentation titled “Dry eye symptoms in children: Can we reliably measure them?”
2019 Dorothy Carlborg Research Grant, Cornea and Contact Lens Society of Australia
Paper presentation titled “The perfect storm? Smartphone use and contact lenses in children”.
2019 Student travel award, International Society for Contact Lens Research
Paper presentation titled “Contact lens discomfort in children: Is this a looming epidemic and will we be able to measure it?”
2018 Student travel award, Scientific and Educators Meeting in Optometry, Australia
Paper presentation titled “The ocular surface in children: a review of current knowledge and meta-analysis of tear film stability and tear secretion in children”.
2018 – 2022 Postgraduate Research Tuition Fee Scholarship Stipend, UNSW Sydney, Australia
Paper presentation titled “The ocular surface and blinking in children”.
Publications
Journals
- Cabrera Aguas, M., Chidi-Egboka, N., Kandel, H., Watson, S. (2024). Antimicrobial resistance in ocular infection: A review. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 52(3), 258-275. [More Information]
- Caffery, B., Pucker, A., Chidi-Egboka, N., Obinwanne, C., Harkness, B., Carnt, N., Liu, S., Ng, A. (2024). Lubricating drops for contact lens discomfort in adults. The Cochrane Library Chichester UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2024 (9), CD015751. [More Information]
- Mudgil, P., Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Whitehall, J., Golebiowski, B. (2023). Biophysical characteristics of the tear film in school-aged children. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 64(8), 189. [More Information]
2024
- Cabrera Aguas, M., Chidi-Egboka, N., Kandel, H., Watson, S. (2024). Antimicrobial resistance in ocular infection: A review. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, 52(3), 258-275. [More Information]
- Caffery, B., Pucker, A., Chidi-Egboka, N., Obinwanne, C., Harkness, B., Carnt, N., Liu, S., Ng, A. (2024). Lubricating drops for contact lens discomfort in adults. The Cochrane Library Chichester UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2024 (9), CD015751. [More Information]
2023
- Mudgil, P., Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Whitehall, J., Golebiowski, B. (2023). Biophysical characteristics of the tear film in school-aged children. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 64(8), 189. [More Information]
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Chen, J., Briggs, N., Golebiowski, B. (2023). Blink Rate Measured In Situ Decreases While Reading From Printed Text or Digital Devices, Regardless of Task Duration, Difficulty, or Viewing Distance. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 64(2). [More Information]
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Wagner, P., Golebiowski, B. (2023). Blinking and normal ocular surface in school-aged children and the effects of age and screen time. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 107(11), 1613-1620. [More Information]
2021
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Golebiowski, B., Lee, S., Vi, M., Jalbert, I. (2021). Dry eye symptoms in children: can we reliably measure them? Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 41(1), 105-115. [More Information]
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Golebiowski, B. (2021). One hour of smartphone use induces ocular discomfort and reduces blinking in children. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 62(8), 1265. [More Information]
- Chen, J., Chidi-Egboka, N., Jalbert, I., Wagner, P., Golebiowski, B. (2021). Real-life in situ measurement of blinking using a wearable device: establishing a gold standard for spontaneous blinking. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 62(8). [More Information]
2020
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Golebiowski, B., Lee, S., Vi, M., Jalbert, I. (2020). Dry eye symptoms in children: Can we reliably measure them? Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 61(7), 121. [More Information]
- Golebiowski, B., Long, J., Harrison, K., Lee, A., Chidi-Egboka, N., Asper, L. (2020). Smartphone Use and Effects on Tear Film, Blinking and Binocular Vision. Current Eye Research, 45(4), 428-434. [More Information]
2019
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Briggs, N., Jalbert, I., Golebiowski, B. (2019). The ocular surface in children: A review of current knowledge and meta-analysis of tear film stability and tear secretion in children. The Ocular Surface, 17(1), 28-39. [More Information]
2018
- Egbeahie, S., Idu, F., Chidi-Egboka, N. (2018). Effect of Combined Intake of Garcinia Kola and Ascorbic Acid on Intraocular Pressure of Normotensive Nigerians. Journal of the Nigerian Optometric Association, 20(1), 20-29.
2017
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Bolarinwa, O., Awoyemi, A., Patrick, C. (2017). Eye care practices among commercial drivers in a developing country. Research Journal of Health Sciences, 5(2), 82-93. [More Information]
2016
- Chidi-Egboka, N., Bolarinwa, O., Awoyemi, A. (2016). Photostress recovery time among commercial drivers in Nigeria. Tropical Journal of Health Sciences, 23(3), 20-27.
Selected Grants
2025
- The ocular surface burden of breast cancer chemotherapy, Chidi-Egboka N, Watson S, ARVO Foundation for Eye Research/Research Support
- The ocular surface burden of chemotherapy for breast cancer., Chidi-Egboka N, Boyle F, Watson S, Perth Eye Foundation/Vision Impact Fund
Editorial Online Resources
- Chidi-Egboka NC, Golebiowski B, Jalbert I.Assessing DED symptoms in children. Dry Eye 2023. NEW ZEALAND Optics. https://www.nzoptics.co.nz/live-articles/the-challenge-of-assessing-ded-symptoms-in-children/. Accessed 12 September 2023.
- Chidi-Egboka Ngozi C, Rebecca Dang, Pauline Kang. Paediatric dry eye care. Insight’s Continuing Professional Development, INSIGHT Available at:https://www.insightnews.com.au/paediatric-dry-eye-care/Accessed June 13, 2023
- Chidi-Egboka, Ngozi C., Isabelle Jalbert, and Blanka Golebiowski. “Smartphone gaming rapidly reduces blink rate in children” Featured in Insight Local News, Optometry Research by Rhiannon Bowman, 24 June 2022 https://www.insightnews.com.au/smartphone-gaming-rapidly-reduces-blink-rate-in-children/Accessed 27 July 2022
- Chidi-Egboka NC. The Ocular Surface in Children: A review of current knowledge and meta-analysis of tear film stability and tear secretion in children. Practice Update. Available at:https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/analyzing-tear-film-stability-and-tear-secretion-in-children/74855/65/5/1. Accessed October 31, 2018.
- Chidi-Egboka NC, Golebiowski B, Lee SY, Vi M, Jalbert I.Dry eye questionnaires in children. International Association of Contact Lens Educators (IACLE) Research Update. Issue 51: Dry Eye. Available at: https://iacle.org/research-update-archive/?email_id=231 Accessed March 30, 2021.
- Chidi-Egboka NC. One hour of smartphone use induces ocular discomfort and reduces blinking in children. Conference highlights. Contact Lens Update, Clinical Insight based on current research. ISSUE 62: Digital Devices and Dry Eye: A Growing Issue. Available at: https://contactlensupdate.com/ Accessed November 12, 2021.
- Chidi-Egboka, Ngozi C., Isabelle Jalbert, and Blanka Golebiowski. "One hour of smartphone use induces ocular discomfort and reduces blinking in children." The Conversation 202 (2018): 300-3.
In the media
- The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology recognition for Celebrating Women’s History to mark the March 2023 International Women Day Celebration: https://bit.ly/3TgoEwK
- Keynote speaker at 2022 International Cornea and Contact Lens Congress: https://bit.ly/3XnmXiP
- IMNIS profile page - https://imnis.org.au/mentee-ngozi-chidi-egboka
- UNSW Campus Morning Mail_IMNIS Catalyst Ambassador - https://campusmorningmail.com.au/news/appointments-achievements-411/
- ARVOSciComFellow - https://www.arvo.org/education/science-communication-training-fellowship/meet-the-scicomm-fellows/
- UNSW PGC Female Ambassador: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/voice/pgc/pgc-newsletter/2021-june-newsletter
- UNSW PGC Student and Supervisor award 2021: https://www.arc.unsw.edu.au/voice/pgc/supervisor-awards-2021