Dr Sheela Kumaran
Lecturer
2020 PhD (Public Health), Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
2011 M Phil. Optometry, Elite School of Optometry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India.
2009 B S Optometry, Elite School of Optometry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India.
Fellowships
2023 Fellow American Academy of Optometry
Medicine & Health
School of Optometry and Vision Science
Dr Sheela Kumaran is a Research Fellow at the school of Optometry and Vision Science, UNSW Sydney. She is an early-career health services and outcomes researcher, with an educational background in Optometry and a PhD in Public Health (Google scholar h-index: 9; about 300 citations with work cited in 36 countries; ~8 million grant funding including ~ $100,000 as CI-A). Driven by a vision to improve the quality of life for individuals with eye diseases and vision impairments, her research focuses on understanding patient-reported impacts of eye conditions and co-designing interventions and models of care that are genuinely patient-centred. Having expertise in outcome measures development and psychometric analysis, she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams nationally and internationally on various health systems and implementation science research projects.
E-mail
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Digital Inclusion Program for Older Adults with Sensory Loss, Gopinath B, Keay L, Ferguson M, Heine C, Selvadurai N, Sinha K, Tang D, Kumaran S, Australian Research Council Linkage Project 24, $308,992, 2025-2027.
- M Scheiman, K Pesudovs, T Roberts S Cotter, L Jordan, J Liao, C Master, G Grant, J Christy. Development of PROM, Validation of Clinical Outcome Measures, Natural History, and Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Related Vision Disorders. Vision Research Program - Focused Translational Team Science Award, US Department of Défense Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), Co-investigator, US$ $3,993,333 (AU$6,110,000) 2024-2028.
- Kumaran S, Webber A, Shah P, Lea A, Lingam R and Ford B, Vision for Integrated Paediatric eyecare (VIP) – co-design project, Health Systems Research Theme: 2024 Collaborative Grant, $49,939, 2024
- Anantharaman D, Dawes P, Meyer C, Keay L, Kumaran S, ‘How can we improve hearing and vision care for residents of aged care communities?’, Health Translation Queensland, Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Microgrant, $1056, 2023
- Dawes P, Pachana N, Leroi I, Keay L, Sohrabi H, Gu Y, Martini A, Coleman M, Meyer C, Heine C, Kumaran S, Newall J, Gannon B, Lenzen S, Lowthian J ‘Home hearing and vision care to improve quality of life for people with dementia and carers’, 2022 MRFF Dementia Ageing and Aged Care Mission, $1,361,892, 2023-2026
- Keay L, Pesudovs K, Kumaran S, Macular Disease Social Impact Study, Macular Disease Foundation Australia, $127,143, 2022-2024
- Kumaran S, Pesudovs K, Keay L, Liew G, Measuring the breadth and the depth of the quality-of-life impacts of age-related macular degeneration, The Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grant, $49,674, 2021-2023
Academic awards
Academic Excellence: Research Award, School of Optometry & Vision Science, UNSW Sydney, 2024
Academic excellence (postgraduate research) international students award from His Excellency, the Governor of South Australia, Study Adelaide, Australia, 2019
The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship, 2016
Australian Postgraduate Award, 2016
Publications
- Dawes P, El-Saifi N, Meyer CJ, Rose N, Bail K, Browning C, Cenin DR, Ferguson M, Heine C, Keay L, Kumaran S, Newall J, Scanlan E, Sohrabi HR, Toomey M, Westbrook J, Challenges and Opportunities to Support Communication and Reduce Background Noise in Long-Term Care, Journal of Long-Term Care (accepted 17th Sep 2026)
- Kumaran S, Piano M, Choo Z, Liang M, Dawes P, Meyer C, El-Saifi N, Anantharaman D, Keay L, Rewarding yet challenging: factors influencing domiciliary optometry services in Australian long-term care communities, Clinical and Experimental Optometry, {Accepted 22 July 2026} https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2026.2695834
- Alemu HW, Kumaran SE, Carnt N, Assaye AK, Baral P, Pesudovs K. Evaluating quality of patient-reported outcome measures in keratitis: a systematic review. Optom Vis Sci. 2026; e70052 https://doi.org/10.1002/ovs2.70052
- Toomey M, Gurteen H, Bennett B, Cenin D, El-Saifi N, Ferguson M, Gu Y, Heine C, Keay L, Kumaran S, Lenzen S,… Dawes P, Protocol for a pre-post field trial of a home hearing and vision care program for older Australians with diverse cognitive abilities and hearing and/or vision impairment,” Health Science Reports 9 (2026): e71931. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71931
- Toomey M, Wilson L, Gurteen H, Franco B, Bennett R, Cenin D, El-Saifi N, Ferguson M, Gu Y, Heine C, Keay L, Kumaran S, Lenzen S,… Dawes P, Prevalence of Hearing, Vision and Cognitive Impairment and Impact in Older Adults in Home Care: A Study Protocol, Health Expectations 29 (2026): e70613. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70613.
- Huang-Lung, J., Kumaran, S., Turnbull, P. R., Webber, A. L., Rhee, J., Barr, M., … 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, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/08164622.2026.2624750
- Hart K, Kumaran S, Carnt N, Stapleton F, Jaworski A. Infection Control in Optometric Practice: Evaluating the Impact of Guidelines on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Behaviours. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2026 Mar 16. doi: 10.1007/s44402-026-00055-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41838374.
- Anantharaman D, Meyer C, Nisar M, Kumaran S, Keay L, McAvoy S, Dawes P, The ABCs of Hearing and Vision Care in Long-Term Care Communities: A Systematic Review and Behavioral Systems Map of Actors, Behaviors, and COM-B Factors, The Gerontologist, 2026; gnag020, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnag020
- Gurteen H, Toomey M, Franco B, El-Saifi N, Heine C, Leroi I, Meyer CJ, Kumaran S, Dawes P. Co-Designing a Sensory Support Intervention for Older Adults With Hearing and Vision Impairment Living in Australian Home Care Settings. Health Expect. 2025 Dec;28(6):e70481
- El-Saifi, N., Campbell, M. E. J., George, N., Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Meyer, C., … Dawes, P. (2025). Barriers and enablers to hearing service provision in aged care settings in Australia: perspectives from hearing clinicians. International Journal of Audiology, 1–12. =
- El-Saifi N, Meyer CJ, Rose N, Bail K, Browning C, Cenin DR, Ferguson M, Heine C, Keay L, Kumaran S, Newall J, Scanlan E, Sohrabi HR, Toomey M, Westbrook J, Dawes P. Factors Influencing Staff Support for Sensory Device Use for People in Long-Term Care Settings. J Appl Gerontol. 2025 Sep 19:7334648251377485.
- Baral P, Kumaran S, Stapleton F,…, Pesudovs K. Understanding the quality-of-life impacts of ocular surface disease, Contact Lens and Anterior Eye, 2025; 49 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clae.2025.102482
- Toomey, M., Gurteen, H., Franco, B., Wilson, L., Coleman, M., El-Saifi, N., Heine C., Keay L., Kumaran S., Lenzen S.… Dawes, P. (2025). “Aged care is more than wiping bums and giving medication” – a qualitative study of the sensory support care needs of older Australians with hearing and/or vision impairment. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–10.
- Gurteen H, Toomey M, Franco B, Cenin D…, Kumaran S, Lenzen S…, Dawes P, Protocol for the process evaluation of the SENSE-Cog sensory support intervention field trial to improve quality of life for older people receiving home care in Australia, Health Expect. 2025 Jun;28(3):e70305. doi: 10.1111/hex.70305.
- Meyer C, El-Saifi N, Rose N, Bail K,..., Keay L, Kumaran S, Leroi I, Liew G, Martini A, Martins R, Newall J, Raichand S, Scanlan E, Sohrabi HR, Toomey M, Westbrook J, Dawes P. Protocol for a Field Trial of a Hearing and Vision Support Intervention for People Living in Long-Term Care in Australia. Health Expect. 2025 Feb;28(1): e70175.
- Baral P, Kumaran S, Stapleton F, Pesudovs K. A systematic review assessing the quality of patient reported outcome measures in ocular surface disease. Ocul Surf. 2025 Jan;35:31-56
- Anantharaman D, Meyer C, Keay L, Kumaran S, Dawes P. Topical review: Challenges and solutions for eye care in long-term care. Optom Vis Sci. 2025 Feb 1;102(2):127-132.
- Dawes P, Reeves D… Kumaran SE… Leroi I, Development and validation of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for People with Vision Impairment (MOCA-VI). Psychol Assess. 2025 Mar;37(3):114-122.
- Milte R, Ratcliffe J, Kumaran S, Hutchinson C, Chen G, Kaambwa B, Khadka J. Public Attitudes for Quality and Funding of Long‐Term Care: Findings from an Australian Survey. Health & Social Care in the Community. 2024;2024(1):5798242.
- Walker M, Barbosa IJ, Kumaran S, Van Heerden G, Keay L, Khuu S, Oberstein S. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist education: Reflecting on the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Graduate Diploma in O&M. Vision Rehabilitation International.2024;14(1).
- Kumaran SE, Khadka J, Rakshit A, Hussaindeen JR, Pesudovs K. Constructing country-specific quality-of-life item banks for adults with amblyopia and strabismus in Australia and India. Clin Exp Optom. 2023 Nov 19:1-8
- Hutchinson C, Ratcliffe J, Crocker M, Kumaran SE, Milte R and Khadka J, “Knowledge is everything?” How well do the general public understand aged care and how does this affect their attitudes towards quality of care and future funding? Ageing & Society. 2021 Oct 20:1-23.
- Kumaran SE, Rakshit A, Hussaindeen JR, Khadka J & Pesudovs K. Does non-strabismic amblyopia affect the quality of life of adults? Findings from a qualitative study. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2021; 41: 996-1006.
- Ratcliffe J, Khadka J, Kumaran S & Kaambwa B. What price quality in aged care? Findings from a national survey of more than 6500 income taxpayers. Med J Aust 2021; 215: 307-310.e301.
- Feo R, Kumaran S, Conroy T, Heuzenroeder L & Kitson A. An evaluation of instruments measuring behavioural aspects of the nurse-patient relationship. Nurs Inq 2021: e12425.
- Kumaran SE, Khadka J, Baker R and Pesudovs K, ‘Functional limitations recognised by adults with amblyopia and strabismus in daily life: a qualitative exploration.’ Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2019 May; 39(3): 131-140.
- Gopalakrishnan S, Venugopal D, Sailaja MVS, Kumaran SE, Ramani KK. Barriers and enablers to low vision care services in a tertiary eye care hospital: A mixed method study. Indian journal of ophthalmology. 2019 Apr;67(4):536-40.
- Kumaran SE, Khadka J, Baker R and Pesudovs K, ‘Patient reported outcome measures in amblyopia and strabismus – a systematic review’. Clin Exp Optom. 2018 Jul;101(4):460-484
- Kumaran SE, Balasubramaniam SM, Kumar DS, and Krishna Kumar R ‘Refractive Error and Vision-Related Quality of Life in South Indian Children’. Optom Vis Sci. 2015 Mar; 92(3):272-8.
- Kumar DS, Balasubramaniam SM, Kumaran SE and Krishna Kumar R ‘Parents’ Awareness and Perception of Children’s Eye Diseases in Chennai, India’. Optom Vis Sci. 2013 Dec; 90(12):1462-6.
- Balasubramaniam SM, Kumar DS, Kumaran SE and Ramani KK ‘Factors affecting eye care-seeking behavior of parents for their children’. Optom Vis Sci. 2013 Oct; 90(10):1138-42
Scientific reports
- Keay, L., Kumaran, S., Rai A, Ren K, Trinh M, Pesudovs K, & Ly, A (2024). Macular Disease Foundation of Australia Social Impact Survey 3
- Keay L, Kumaran S, Ren K, Pesudovs K, Ly A. (2023). Macular Disease Foundation of Australia Social Impact Survey 2
- Ratcliffe J, Chen G, Khadka J, Kumaran S, Hutchinson C, Milte R, Savvas S, Batchelor F (2020). Australia’s aged care system: the quality-of-care experience and community expectations. Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, South Australia.
- Khadka J, Ratcliffe J, Chen G, Kumaran S, Milte R, Hutchinson C, Milte R, Savvas S, Batchelor F (2020). A new measure of quality-of-care experience in aged care: psychometric assessment and validation of the Quality-of-Care Experience (QCE) questionnaire. Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, South Australia.
- Noone, J., Writer, T., Kumaran, S.E., Ly, A., & Keay, L. (2020). Macular Disease Foundation of Australia Social Impact Survey: Baseline report. Sydney: Centre for Social Impact.
My Research Supervision
PhD
- Gaurav Paramasivan, Public health impact of driving participation for young adults who use Bioptics for driving: safety, value, and policy, 2024-
- Aragaw Kegne Assaye, Development of Myopia specific item banks to measure quality of life parameters, UNSW, Co-Supervisor, 2023-
- Divya Anantharaman, Behavioural System Mapping for Utilisation of Sensory (vision & hearing) Support Interventions at Residential Aged Care Facilities, University of Queensland, Co-Supervisor, 2023-
- Haile Woretaw, Development of Keratitis specific item banks to measure quality of life parameters, UNSW, Co-Supervisor, 2022-
- Pawan Baral, Development of Ocular Surface Disease (OSD) specific item banks to measure quality of life parameters, UNSW, Co-Supervisor, 2022-2026