NZ Ophthalmologists to Form NZ's Largest Eye Specialist

NZ Ophthalmologists to Form New Zealand’s Largest Eye Specialist Unit

Two of the country’s leading eye diagnostic and surgical service providers have entered a joint venture which will create the largest private eye care centre in New Zealand and one of the biggest in Australasia.

Auckland Eye, New Zealand’s leading private sub-specialty eye centre, has formed a strategic partnership with Eye Specialists Day-Surgery Eye Centre in Whangarei making it the largest provider of private ophthalmic services in New Zealand.

The new joint venture with ophthalmologist Dr Brian Kent-Smith of Eye Specialists will see 21 percent of all of New Zealand’s registered private health care ophthalmologists working with, or in, Auckland Eye facilities.

Auckland Eye’s General Manager Moira McInerney says the partnership will benefit the Northland region by providing better access to sub-specialty ophthalmology and laser procedures.

Dr Kent-Smith says that Northland residents will now have access to sub-specialty trained ophthalmologists in areas such as neuro-ophthalmology, retinal disease and oculoplastics with consultations being carried out in Whangarei by visiting specialists from Auckland.

Northland patients will also have access to laser services, with consultations and follow-up care now available at Eye Specialists. However, laser procedures will still need to be performed in Auckland Eye’s dedicated laser suite.

The benefits of pre-op and post-op care close to home cannot be underestimated for the impact it can have on patients’ lives. “Auckland Eye has many patients who come down to Auckland from Northland for laser surgery,” says Ms McInerney.

“Those who wish to will now be able to have follow-up in their region in a quality-controlled environment, which could significantly reduce the impact of these surgeries on their everyday life by eliminating the need to travel back and forth.”

For Auckland Eye, the joint venture will also be a chance to share knowledge and information across the regions.

“Our clinicians also benefit from having a further highly esteemed colleague in their group in Dr Kent-Smith,” says McInerney.

“Both Eye Specialists and Auckland Eye have, for some years, pursued high standards in quality with accreditation. This is a fantastic opportunity to achieve higher standards of care in both areas and learn from each other’s practices.”

Auckland Eye currently offers a wide variety of expertise in sub-specialty fields of iVision Intralase LASIK, cataract, glaucoma, eyelid surgery, paediatrics and retinal surgery.

Their modern facilities include a fully-equipped operating theatre and one of the finest state-of-the-art refractive laser surgery suites in Australasia.

Auckland Eye and Whangarei’s Eye Specialists Day-Surgery Eye Centre will operate as a joint venture from 1 October.

For more information on Auckland Eye,seewww.aucklandeye.co.nz

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