You need to be at least 20 years of age and have had no change in your glasses or contact lens prescription for at least a year. Laser eye surgery can correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism.

Dr Kent can correct focusing errors in the range of -10 to +5 with laser eye surgery. If you are beyond this level of short sightedness or long sightedness you may still be able to have a procedure to correct your focusing error other than a corrective laser procedure.

You might be better suited to a Lifestyle lens procedure or Implantable contact lens procedure depending on your glasses prescription, age and lifestyle demands.

Astigmatism is treated with the laser at the same time as your shortsightedness or long sightedness is corrected.

Your eyes must be in good ocular health, with no pre-existing untreated eye disease.

Laser vision correction is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

If you suffer from an auto-immune disorder you will need to discuss your suitability further with Dr Kent.

The expertise and experience of Dr David Kent combined with the quality of the technology we have at Fendalton Eye Clinic.

• Our staff care about giving you the best result for you as an individual, finding the most appropriate procedure for you based on your unique focusing error and lifestyle requirements.
• Dr. Kent is one of the most experienced surgeons for laser vision correction in Australasia having performed over 28,000 laser eye surgery procedures. Dr Kent has performed more LASIK procedures than any other New Zealand eye surgeon. For optimal results surgeon experience counts.
• We are the only clinic in the South Island to offer you the safety, accuracy and superior results of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer laser, the most advanced excimer laser with it's smart pulse technology and the unparalleled accuracy of a seven dimensional active eye tracker.
• Every laser eye treatment is tailor-made to each individual eye.
• We do everything we can to give you the best result possible. Follow up after laser eye surgery at Fendalton Eye Clinic is for six months. Within New Zealand the cost of follow up appointments is met by Fendalton Eye Clinic.
• At Fendalton Eye Clinic we have a state-of-the-art purpose-built laser eye surgery theatre.

Since 1997 Dr Kent has performed corrective laser eye surgery on more than four hundred medical doctors and optometrists combined. Dr Kent has performed laser vision correction procedures on five of his staff members and several of his relatives. Dr Kent has also treated many national sporting representatives.

All laser eye surgery vision correction procedures are performed with anaesthetic drops placed in the eye which are extremely effective at completely numbing your eyes.

Anaesthetic eye drops are placed into your eye prior to laser eye surgery treatment to numb the eye so there is usually no pain experienced during the procedure. You will be aware of some pressure against your eye. For several hours after your laser eye procedure you may experience a grittiness or irritation. This irritation lasts about 4 or 5 hours. Some people do experience mild pain after laser vision correction that can be relieved with pain relief tablets (Panadol).

There are several corrective laser eye surgery procedures. After discussion of your specific focusing error and the measurements of your eyes an informed decision can be made as to the most appropriate procedure for you.

PRK: (also referred as ASLA) Photorefractive Keratectomy or Advanced Surface Laser Ablation

The use of one laser, an excimer laser, without the creation of a corneal flap. The surface epithelium is exfoliated to allow the excimer laser to be applied to the corneal bed, remodelling the curvature of the cornea to compensate for the focusing error present. The epithelium then regenerates naturally. Visual recovery is slower than with a LASIK or SMILE procedure, but PRK is often the procedure of choice if the cornea is thin and refractive error is low.  

LASIK: Laser In-situ Keratomileusis

A femotosecond laser is used to form a thin flap on the front of the cornea. The flap is lifted and a second laser, an excimer laser is applied to the exposed deeper corneal layers (stroma), reshaping the stroma to achieve the desired level of correction. The flap is then replaced and correctly repositioned over the modified corneal bed, conforming to the new shape.  

SMILEpro (Small Incision Lenticular Extraction)

The use of just a femtosecond laser to create a “micro incision” rather than a flap. The laser also creates a lenticular shaped piece of tissue that is then removed with forceps via the “micro incision”. SMILEpro is the latest advancement in corrective laser eye surgery, not necessary the procedure of choice for all corrections.   A thorough ophthalmological examination fully informed discussion is required to determine the most appropriate procedure for you and your eyes.  

Active 7D eye tracking The 7D active eye tracker impresses through a number of benefits: Apart from the linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions) it compensates rolling movements of the eye (3rd and 4th dimensions). Compensation of the eye’s rotation around its optical axis is achieved with the static and dynamic Advanced Cyclotorsion Control (5th dimension). Movements along the z-axis (sixth dimension) are actively compensated by means of the z-tracking. Automatic pupil size control and pupil centroid shift compensation ensure additional safety. Latency-Free Tracking in the 7th dimension The new, ground-breaking Latency-Free Tracking considers the time factor, i.e. the 7th dimension. Latency-Free Tracking compensates for eye movements that occur in the period between acquisition of the eyetracker image and triggering of the subsequent laser pulses

How long do I have to be out of my contact lenses prior to my laser eye surgery? Contact lenses can affect the natural curvature of the cornea. You will be required to cease wearing contact lenses for a period of time leading up to your laser eye treatment. This period without contact lenses allows the cornea to return to its natural state, which will optimise the treatment outcome. The period without contact lenses depends on the type of contact lens that you are wearing.

• Soft daily wear or disposable contact lenses should not be worn for two weeks before laser eye surgery.
• Soft toric (astigmatism correcting) contact lenses. This type of contact lens "moulds" the cornea more than a standard soft contact lens. Therefore we advise you to cease wearing soft toric contact lenses for three weeks prior to your laser vision correction.
• Hard or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. This type of lens maintains its own shape while on your eye. They therefore have a greater moulding effect on the cornea. You will need to cease wearing hard or RGP lenses for 6-8 weeks prior to your laser eye surgery.
• Orthokeratology known as Ortho-K is a concept akin to wearing a retainer on your teeth overnight! With Ortho-K specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea to provide temporary correction during waking hours with lenses removed to correct refractive errors (primarily short sightedness, but also astigmatism and long sightedness). The corneal reshaping does fade throughout the day as the cornea slowly reverts back to its natural shape once the lenses are removed. For patients under about 20 years of age Ortho-K provides an effective modality for slowing the progression of myopia. If you are seeking a permanent correction for your focusing error with laser eye surgery and have been wearing Ortho-K lenses it will take several weeks for your cornea to return to it’s nature state before surgery can be performed.We can discuss this more specifically with you on a case by case basis, as it does depend on your focusing error and the period of time you have been using Ortho-K. Please contact us directly to discuss your personal situation.

Normally we ask that you have a quiet day the day after your laser eye surgery procedure. If you have LASIK or SMILEpro laser, most people have their surgery on a Thursday, and are back at work on Monday. You should relax completely immediately after the surgery. If you have PRK treatment the recovery time is longer. You are best to plan to be off work for seven days.

All laser eye surgery procedures whether it be SMILEpro laser, LASIK or PRK are all a permanent change to the shape of the eye. Correcting the measured amount of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism at the time of the laser eye surgery procedure. In rare cases a full correction may not be achievable, if you have a high correction and a thin cornea. We will discuss this with you at your initial assessment. This may mean that you will need to wear spectacles occasionally eg driving at night time. Laser eye surgery will not prevent your eyes from the normal ageing process. There are some people who will have a change in their eyes with time. This can be either progression of myopia or hyperopia. There is no way of predicting if changes will occur with your eyes after your treatment prior to laser vision correction but we do look for stability in your correction ie no significant change in the strength or your glasses or contact lenses over the preceding one to two years and use this as an indicator of the stability of your vision before proceeding with a laser eye surgery procedure. As with all people who have normal distance vision in both eyes you will require spectacles for reading at around age 45+. This aging of the eyes necessitating reading glasses at around 45+ in people with normal distance vision is called Presbyopia. The only way to minimise your dependence for near vision spectacles once you become presbyopic is to have monovision (or blended vision). Monovision is where one eye is treated so that it is fully corrected for the distance while the other eye is focused for near vision. If you are considering a blended vision option we would give you some disposable contact lenses to simulate what the treatment would achieve and get you to trial this to determine for yourself whether or not monovision will suit your lifestyle. We would be happy to discuss monovision with you further. Please contact us directly.

The use of Mitomycin-C (MMC) has also improved PRK results by reducing the chance of over aggressive healing responses. It has been in use for 20-25 years now with no reports of any adverse consequences. It has to be made up fresh by a compounding pharmacist. A round sponge is soaked in the MMC solution and placed onto the cornea for 12 to 60 seconds immediately after the excimer laser treatment. It works by both inhibiting cell activity and reducing the number of activated cells in the healing cornea. With all PRK procedures we irrigate the cornea with chilled balance salt both to wash away the MMC but also give the corneal nerves a “cold shock” and hence give pain relief for up to 48 hours

The current fee is $3,750 per eye — this includes your consultation, surgery (SMILEpro, LASIK or PRK), and six months of follow-up care within New Zealand. Can I get finance? Yes. Finance options are available — more details are available on our Laser Eye Finance page. How can I pay? We accept EFTPOS, credit card, bank transfer, and finance plans. Can I use insurance for laser eye surgery? Coverage varies by provider and policy, so we recommend checking with your insurer directly.

The Intraocular Lens (IOL) was invented in 1949 by Sir Harold Ridley who pioneered IOL surgery for cataract patients. Ridley pioneered this treatment in the face of prolonged strong opposition from the medical community. We have Ridley to thank from the humble beginnings for his innovation as today millions of people have benefited from the independence of having their compromised vision restored by an intraocular lens. In the decades since Ridley used the first IOL's materials and surgical technique have improved in the delivery of modern cataract surgery that we have available today.

The decision as to which intraocular lens to be used is one you make at the consultation with the operating surgeon, based on the health of your eyes and your specific lifestyle visual requirements.

• Multifocal IOLs are the most popular choice of IOL's at Fendalton Eye Clinic due to this type of lens providing a range of clear focus from distance through to close range so the aim of these lenses is to minimise the need for spectacles at any distance but if you are doing fine needle work or reading in bed holding a book at very close range you may require reading glasses for more comfortable detailed near vision.
• Monofocal IOLs, these provide clear focus at one distance, generally optimising distance vision so you would require spectacles for near tasks such as reading, computer work etc.
• Monovision or blended vision using monofocal IOLs - in one eye an IOL is used to optimise distance vision while the other eye an IOL is chosen to optimise vision at close range. The effect is one of blended vision, keeping both eyes open but favouring one eye to read and the other for clear distance vision.

Symptoms of a cataract can be quite variable. The most common symptom is cloudy, blurry or dimmed vision because of the increased shattering of light caused by a cloudy lens. With a cataract you may also experience sensitivity to light and glare. As a cataract advances you may notice difficulty with night vision. It is not uncommon to notice that colours are dull in particular a fading or yellowing of bright colours. The formation of a cataract can cause your spectacle prescription to change so with advanced cataracts updating your glasses does not provide clear vision.

A cataract is a clouding or yellowing of the eye's naturally clear lens. The lens in your eye is inside your eye behind the iris (coloured part of your eye). The majority of cataracts appear with advancing age. However the exact cause of cataract is unclear, it may be the result of a lifetime of exposure to ultraviolet radiation contained in sunlight, or may be related to other lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, diet and alcohol consumption. Cataract can also occur at any age as a result of other causes such as eye injury, exposure to toxic substances, long term exposure to certain medications or radiation, or as a result of other diseases such as diabetes. In rare cases babies may be born with congenital cataracts due to genetic defects or developmental problems. In infancy cataracts may also result from exposure to diseases such as rubella during pregnancy. Dr Kent and Dr Munro can treat your cataracts by performing cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an intraocular lens.

Drs Kent & Munro perform cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange procedures (Lifestyle replacement lens surgery) at the Christchurch Eye Surgery Hospital. Opened in 2014, their state-of-the art facility has been purpose-built to give you the very best eye surgery experience possible. Christchurch Eye Surgery Hospital has an exceptionally-skilled professional team of experts including anaesthetists, nurses and technicians to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment and quality care.

Dr Kent and Dr Munro both perform RLE and cataract operations at Christchurch Eye Surgery, a purpose built eye surgery day hospital located at 274 Papanui Road in Christchurch.

No. The eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops, sometimes the eye surgeon may also use an anaesthetic block around the eye and most people feel only mild pressure.

The actual time for the surgical procedure (for either cataract or refractive lens exchange) is around 20 minutes per eye. Additional time does need to be factored in for preparation and recovery. If both eyes are treated you will be at Christchurch Eye Surgery for approximately 3 hours on the day of your surgery. You will need to have someone drive you home after the surgery, we recommend that you rest at home over the immediate hours after your surgery.

Most people notice clearer vision within 24–48 hours after surgery, and many can resume normal daily activities within a few days. Driving and returning to work are usually possible once your vision meets safe driving standards, though this varies depending on individual healing and the type of work you do. Most people return to usual daily activities within the first few days, however full stabilisation of vision can take up to three months. It’s important to use all prescribed medicated eye drops during the initial weeks, and your surgeon may recommend preservative free lubricating drops as your eyes continue to heal.

Avoid rubbing your eyes. Avoid swimming for 5 days. Avoid wearing eye makeup for 3 days or longer if your eyes feel irritable.

Most patients enjoy a clearer, broader range of vision with less need for glasses. The visual outcome depends on the lens selected:  

• Monofocal IOLs: provide crisp vision at a set focus, usually correcting for distance vision. Though you can have a monofocal IOL inserted in one eye for clear distance vision and the other eye have a monofocal IOL for near vision, this is called monovision or “blended vision”.
• Extended range: smooth vision for distance and mid-range activities. Glasses would be required for reading or tasks within arm’s length distance.
• Full range of vision IOLs: the greatest independence from spectacles across near, intermediate, and distance tasks. You may require magnifying spectacles if you are doing an extremely fine detailed task for a prolonged period.

Your eye surgeon will guide you through the lens options best aligned with your goals.  

Yes. All of the different categories of IOLs come in a toric lens design which can elegantly correct astigmatism.

Possibly, depending on the IOL. Even with the most advanced lenses, some patients prefer glasses for very fine print, prolonged reading, or tasks in dim light. We aim for the highest level of visual independence without over promising results.

A cataract most commonly develops over time as part of the normal eye changes that occur in the lens of the eye.  Clouding of the lens develops due to the proteins within the lens breaking down. Most people in NZ have some degree of cataract starting to occur over the age of 60 years, generally age related cataracts develop gradually. Several factors can increase the likelihood of developing a cataract, including:

• ageing
• family history or genetics
• long-term UV exposure
• certain medical conditions, such as diabetes
• certain medications (such as steroids)
• previous eye injury or surgery
• smoking

Most age-related cataracts form gradually whilst cataracts due to other factors may develop faster, your optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose the presence of a cataract during a routine eye examination.

No this is a common misconception. A cataract is a clouding of the naturally clear crystalline lens of the eye.

Surgery is recommended when cataracts interfere with daily activities such as reading, driving, or recognising faces.

Yes. It is one of the safest and most successful surgeries performed worldwide, with a high success rate and low complication risk.

The surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

The eye surgeon will recommend lenses based on your lifestyle, visual goals, and eye health. Please note: if you are referred to Fendalton Eye Clinic from Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) we can only use the type of IOL as set by Health NZ. Premium lenses (EDoF or full range of vision IOLs) are not part of the funded service, and Health NZ does not permit patients to contribute additional payment to access these lenses within the funded pathway.  If you wish to explore premium IOL options, this can only be done through a fully private procedure.

Whether you have one or both eyes operated on the same day is something that you can discuss with the eye surgeon. If your goal following cataract surgery is to be less dependent on glasses, having both eyes treated at the same time may be preferable, as it avoids a potential situation where there could be a large difference in spectacle prescription between the eyes if one eye only is treated, a large difference in focus between the eyes could be hard to cope with after surgery.

Cataract surgery is usually covered by private health insurance providers, it may depend on your policy, you would need to check with your health insurance provider. Premium lens upgrades may involve extra cost.

The decision as to which intraocular lens to be used is one you make at the consultation with the operating surgeon, based on the health of your eyes and your specific lifestyle visual requirements.

• Multifocal IOLs are the most popular choice of IOL's at Fendalton Eye Clinic due to this type of lens providing a range of clear focus from distance through to close range so the aim of these lenses is to minimise the need for spectacles at any distance but if you are doing fine needle work or reading in bed holding a book at very close range you may require reading glasses for more comfortable detailed near vision.
• Monofocal IOLs, these provide clear focus at one distance, generally optimising distance vision so you would require spectacles for near tasks such as reading, computer work etc.
• Monovision or blended vision using monofocal IOLs - in one eye an IOL is used to optimise distance vision while the other eye an IOL is chosen to optimise vision at close range. The effect is one of blended vision, keeping both eyes open but favouring one eye to read and the other for clear distance vision.

Most patients enjoy a clearer, broader range of vision with less need for glasses. The visual outcome depends on the lens selected:  

• Monofocal IOLs: provide crisp vision at a set focus, usually correcting for distance vision. Though you can have a monofocal IOL inserted in one eye for clear distance vision and the other eye have a monofocal IOL for near vision, this is called monovision or “blended vision”.
• Extended range: smooth vision for distance and mid-range activities. Glasses would be required for reading or tasks within arm’s length distance.
• Full range of vision IOLs: the greatest independence from spectacles across near, intermediate, and distance tasks. You may require magnifying spectacles if you are doing an extremely fine detailed task for a prolonged period.

Your eye surgeon will guide you through the lens options best aligned with your goals.  

Yes. All of the different categories of IOLs come in a toric lens design which can elegantly correct astigmatism.

Possibly, depending on the IOL. Even with the most advanced lenses, some patients prefer glasses for very fine print, prolonged reading, or tasks in dim light. We aim for the highest level of visual independence without over promising results.

You need to be at least 20 years of age and have had no change in your glasses or contact lens prescription for at least a year. Laser eye surgery can correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism.

Dr Kent can correct focusing errors in the range of -10 to +5 with laser eye surgery. If you are beyond this level of short sightedness or long sightedness you may still be able to have a procedure to correct your focusing error other than a corrective laser procedure.

You might be better suited to a Lifestyle lens procedure or Implantable contact lens procedure depending on your glasses prescription, age and lifestyle demands.

Astigmatism is treated with the laser at the same time as your shortsightedness or long sightedness is corrected.

Your eyes must be in good ocular health, with no pre-existing untreated eye disease.

Laser vision correction is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

If you suffer from an auto-immune disorder you will need to discuss your suitability further with Dr Kent.

The expertise and experience of Dr David Kent combined with the quality of the technology we have at Fendalton Eye Clinic.

• Our staff care about giving you the best result for you as an individual, finding the most appropriate procedure for you based on your unique focusing error and lifestyle requirements.
• Dr. Kent is one of the most experienced surgeons for laser vision correction in Australasia having performed over 28,000 laser eye surgery procedures. Dr Kent has performed more LASIK procedures than any other New Zealand eye surgeon. For optimal results surgeon experience counts.
• We are the only clinic in the South Island to offer you the safety, accuracy and superior results of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer laser, the most advanced excimer laser with it's smart pulse technology and the unparalleled accuracy of a seven dimensional active eye tracker.
• Every laser eye treatment is tailor-made to each individual eye.
• We do everything we can to give you the best result possible. Follow up after laser eye surgery at Fendalton Eye Clinic is for six months. Within New Zealand the cost of follow up appointments is met by Fendalton Eye Clinic.
• At Fendalton Eye Clinic we have a state-of-the-art purpose-built laser eye surgery theatre.

Generally beyond the sixth decade of life there is a high likelihood that you will have early or mild cataracts. If there is any sign of early cataracts it is more appropriate to perform surgery to remove the deteriorating lens, lifestyle lens replacement or cataract extraction, replacing the natural lens of the eye with an intraocular implant. In most cases we would use a multifocal intraocular lens to give the best chance of seeing clearly for both distance and near vision without spectacles following extraction of the lens.  

Since 1997 Dr Kent has performed corrective laser eye surgery on more than four hundred medical doctors and optometrists combined. Dr Kent has performed laser vision correction procedures on five of his staff members and several of his relatives. Dr Kent has also treated many national sporting representatives.

All laser eye surgery vision correction procedures are performed with anaesthetic drops placed in the eye which are extremely effective at completely numbing your eyes.

A femtosecond laser generates light pulses as short as one quadrillionth of a second. Femtosecond technology has opened up a whole new area of scientific study, femtochemistry, which won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The application of the femtosecond laser in ophthalmology was developed by physicists, biomedical engineers and ophthalmologists at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Sciences and the Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, USA. The femtosecond laser has become the most accurate and safest technology for the creation of the corneal flap the first step in the LASIK procedure. The Zeiss Visumax femtosecond laser has enabled the latest laser eye surgery technique to be achieved SMILE eye laser.

Anaesthetic eye drops are placed into your eye prior to laser eye surgery treatment to numb the eye so there is usually no pain experienced during the procedure. You will be aware of some pressure against your eye. For several hours after your laser eye procedure you may experience a grittiness or irritation. This irritation lasts about 4 or 5 hours. Some people do experience mild pain after laser vision correction that can be relieved with pain relief tablets (Panadol).

There are several corrective laser eye surgery procedures. After discussion of your specific focusing error and the measurements of your eyes an informed decision can be made as to the most appropriate procedure for you.

PRK: (also referred as ASLA) Photorefractive Keratectomy or Advanced Surface Laser Ablation

The use of one laser, an excimer laser, without the creation of a corneal flap. The surface epithelium is exfoliated to allow the excimer laser to be applied to the corneal bed, remodelling the curvature of the cornea to compensate for the focusing error present. The epithelium then regenerates naturally. Visual recovery is slower than with a LASIK or SMILE procedure, but PRK is often the procedure of choice if the cornea is thin and refractive error is low.  

LASIK: Laser In-situ Keratomileusis

A femotosecond laser is used to form a thin flap on the front of the cornea. The flap is lifted and a second laser, an excimer laser is applied to the exposed deeper corneal layers (stroma), reshaping the stroma to achieve the desired level of correction. The flap is then replaced and correctly repositioned over the modified corneal bed, conforming to the new shape.  

SMILEpro (Small Incision Lenticular Extraction)

The use of just a femtosecond laser to create a “micro incision” rather than a flap. The laser also creates a lenticular shaped piece of tissue that is then removed with forceps via the “micro incision”. SMILEpro is the latest advancement in corrective laser eye surgery, not necessary the procedure of choice for all corrections.   A thorough ophthalmological examination fully informed discussion is required to determine the most appropriate procedure for you and your eyes.  

Active 7D eye tracking The 7D active eye tracker impresses through a number of benefits: Apart from the linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions) it compensates rolling movements of the eye (3rd and 4th dimensions). Compensation of the eye’s rotation around its optical axis is achieved with the static and dynamic Advanced Cyclotorsion Control (5th dimension). Movements along the z-axis (sixth dimension) are actively compensated by means of the z-tracking. Automatic pupil size control and pupil centroid shift compensation ensure additional safety. Latency-Free Tracking in the 7th dimension The new, ground-breaking Latency-Free Tracking considers the time factor, i.e. the 7th dimension. Latency-Free Tracking compensates for eye movements that occur in the period between acquisition of the eyetracker image and triggering of the subsequent laser pulses

Yes. It is safe to do both eyes one after the other, especially with the greater safety offered by eliminating the microkeratome blade by providing "all-laser"  LASIK instead. Dr. Kent has offered same day both eye LASIK since September 1997, the first New Zealand eye surgeon to do so.

How long do I have to be out of my contact lenses prior to my laser eye surgery? Contact lenses can affect the natural curvature of the cornea. You will be required to cease wearing contact lenses for a period of time leading up to your laser eye treatment. This period without contact lenses allows the cornea to return to its natural state, which will optimise the treatment outcome. The period without contact lenses depends on the type of contact lens that you are wearing.

• Soft daily wear or disposable contact lenses should not be worn for two weeks before laser eye surgery.
• Soft toric (astigmatism correcting) contact lenses. This type of contact lens "moulds" the cornea more than a standard soft contact lens. Therefore we advise you to cease wearing soft toric contact lenses for three weeks prior to your laser vision correction.
• Hard or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. This type of lens maintains its own shape while on your eye. They therefore have a greater moulding effect on the cornea. You will need to cease wearing hard or RGP lenses for 6-8 weeks prior to your laser eye surgery.
• Orthokeratology known as Ortho-K is a concept akin to wearing a retainer on your teeth overnight! With Ortho-K specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea to provide temporary correction during waking hours with lenses removed to correct refractive errors (primarily short sightedness, but also astigmatism and long sightedness). The corneal reshaping does fade throughout the day as the cornea slowly reverts back to its natural shape once the lenses are removed. For patients under about 20 years of age Ortho-K provides an effective modality for slowing the progression of myopia. If you are seeking a permanent correction for your focusing error with laser eye surgery and have been wearing Ortho-K lenses it will take several weeks for your cornea to return to it’s nature state before surgery can be performed.We can discuss this more specifically with you on a case by case basis, as it does depend on your focusing error and the period of time you have been using Ortho-K. Please contact us directly to discuss your personal situation.

Every procedure has the possibility of complications, with the majority of these resolving over time or being able to be managed with further treatment by Dr Kent:

• Mild dry eye - Some people experience mild to moderate dry eye symptoms after laser eye treatment. Use of lubricating eyedrops may be required. By 3-6 months the eyes are usually back to normal.
• Undercorrection - If the refraction is not fully corrected and it causes a problem then an enhancement procedure can usually correct it.
• Overcorrection - An initial overcorrection is expected for high corrections and in hyperopia.
• Induced astigmatism - Can usually be corrected with enhancement procedure.
• Regression – This is the normal healing of the eye and results in undercorrection. It is corrected with enhancement procedure.
• Infection -We have had only one case in over 30,000 LASIK procedures which quickly responded to antibiotic eyedrops and resolved without complication.

 

Normally we ask that you have a quiet day the day after your laser eye surgery procedure. If you have LASIK or SMILEpro laser, most people have their surgery on a Thursday, and are back at work on Monday. You should relax completely immediately after the surgery. If you have PRK treatment the recovery time is longer. You are best to plan to be off work for seven days.

All laser eye surgery procedures whether it be SMILEpro laser, LASIK or PRK are all a permanent change to the shape of the eye. Correcting the measured amount of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism at the time of the laser eye surgery procedure. In rare cases a full correction may not be achievable, if you have a high correction and a thin cornea. We will discuss this with you at your initial assessment. This may mean that you will need to wear spectacles occasionally eg driving at night time. Laser eye surgery will not prevent your eyes from the normal ageing process. There are some people who will have a change in their eyes with time. This can be either progression of myopia or hyperopia. There is no way of predicting if changes will occur with your eyes after your treatment prior to laser vision correction but we do look for stability in your correction ie no significant change in the strength or your glasses or contact lenses over the preceding one to two years and use this as an indicator of the stability of your vision before proceeding with a laser eye surgery procedure. As with all people who have normal distance vision in both eyes you will require spectacles for reading at around age 45+. This aging of the eyes necessitating reading glasses at around 45+ in people with normal distance vision is called Presbyopia. The only way to minimise your dependence for near vision spectacles once you become presbyopic is to have monovision (or blended vision). Monovision is where one eye is treated so that it is fully corrected for the distance while the other eye is focused for near vision. If you are considering a blended vision option we would give you some disposable contact lenses to simulate what the treatment would achieve and get you to trial this to determine for yourself whether or not monovision will suit your lifestyle. We would be happy to discuss monovision with you further. Please contact us directly.

LASIK is the most widely performed corrective laser eye surgery technique worldwide for the correction of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. The first LASIK procedures were performed in Europe in 1991 and in New Zealand in 1995. Tens of millions of people worldwide have reaped the benefits of reduced spectacle dependence by having had LASIK.

Our excimer laser (the laser that performs the actual correction during LASIK or PRK), the Schwind Amaris 1050RS, registers all movements with an eye tracking system that compensates every movement of the eye up to the seventh dimension. An analogy to explain the advanced seven dimensional eye tracker is to imagine your eyeball being a buoy in the sea: When the sea is calm, the buoy shifts from the left to the right or forward and backward. In a swell, however, the buoy tilts to the side. Furthermore, a buoy also turns around its anchorage or moves up and down. In the same manner, your eyeball can make linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions), rolling movements (3rd and 4th dimensions), rotate around its own axis (5th dimension) or move up and down along the z-axis (6th dimension). The 7th dimension considers the time factor and compensates for eye movements that occur during the reaction time of the laser system. That means our laser treatment is delivered without latency. Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch are the only laser centre in the South Island with this most advanced laser technology of a seven dimensional eye tracker for the safety and accuracy of your treatment.

For your treatment you are required to lie on a bed in our laser theatre, your head is supported in a moulded pillow:

• it is best to wear comfortable loose fitting clothes, clothes that are comfortable to lie down in
• trousers are more practical than a dress or skirt
• please remove any earrings
• we advise wearing a loose fitting top or shirt, an item of clothing that can easily be taken off at the end of the day without any pressure over your eyes on removal

The current fee is $3,750 per eye — this includes your consultation, surgery (SMILEpro, LASIK or PRK), and six months of follow-up care within New Zealand. Can I get finance? Yes. Finance options are available — more details are available on our Laser Eye Finance page. How can I pay? We accept EFTPOS, credit card, bank transfer, and finance plans. Can I use insurance for laser eye surgery? Coverage varies by provider and policy, so we recommend checking with your insurer directly.

You need to be at least 20 years of age and have had no change in your glasses or contact lens prescription for at least a year. Laser eye surgery can correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism.

Dr Kent can correct focusing errors in the range of -10 to +5 with laser eye surgery. If you are beyond this level of short sightedness or long sightedness you may still be able to have a procedure to correct your focusing error other than a corrective laser procedure.

You might be better suited to a Lifestyle lens procedure or Implantable contact lens procedure depending on your glasses prescription, age and lifestyle demands.

Astigmatism is treated with the laser at the same time as your shortsightedness or long sightedness is corrected.

Your eyes must be in good ocular health, with no pre-existing untreated eye disease.

Laser vision correction is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

If you suffer from an auto-immune disorder you will need to discuss your suitability further with Dr Kent.

The expertise and experience of Dr David Kent combined with the quality of the technology we have at Fendalton Eye Clinic.

• Our staff care about giving you the best result for you as an individual, finding the most appropriate procedure for you based on your unique focusing error and lifestyle requirements.
• Dr. Kent is one of the most experienced surgeons for laser vision correction in Australasia having performed over 28,000 laser eye surgery procedures. Dr Kent has performed more LASIK procedures than any other New Zealand eye surgeon. For optimal results surgeon experience counts.
• We are the only clinic in the South Island to offer you the safety, accuracy and superior results of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer laser, the most advanced excimer laser with it's smart pulse technology and the unparalleled accuracy of a seven dimensional active eye tracker.
• Every laser eye treatment is tailor-made to each individual eye.
• We do everything we can to give you the best result possible. Follow up after laser eye surgery at Fendalton Eye Clinic is for six months. Within New Zealand the cost of follow up appointments is met by Fendalton Eye Clinic.
• At Fendalton Eye Clinic we have a state-of-the-art purpose-built laser eye surgery theatre.

Generally beyond the sixth decade of life there is a high likelihood that you will have early or mild cataracts. If there is any sign of early cataracts it is more appropriate to perform surgery to remove the deteriorating lens, lifestyle lens replacement or cataract extraction, replacing the natural lens of the eye with an intraocular implant. In most cases we would use a multifocal intraocular lens to give the best chance of seeing clearly for both distance and near vision without spectacles following extraction of the lens.  

Since 1997 Dr Kent has performed corrective laser eye surgery on more than four hundred medical doctors and optometrists combined. Dr Kent has performed laser vision correction procedures on five of his staff members and several of his relatives. Dr Kent has also treated many national sporting representatives.

All laser eye surgery vision correction procedures are performed with anaesthetic drops placed in the eye which are extremely effective at completely numbing your eyes.

A femtosecond laser generates light pulses as short as one quadrillionth of a second. Femtosecond technology has opened up a whole new area of scientific study, femtochemistry, which won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The application of the femtosecond laser in ophthalmology was developed by physicists, biomedical engineers and ophthalmologists at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Sciences and the Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, USA. The femtosecond laser has become the most accurate and safest technology for the creation of the corneal flap the first step in the LASIK procedure. The Zeiss Visumax femtosecond laser has enabled the latest laser eye surgery technique to be achieved SMILE eye laser.

Anaesthetic eye drops are placed into your eye prior to laser eye surgery treatment to numb the eye so there is usually no pain experienced during the procedure. You will be aware of some pressure against your eye. For several hours after your laser eye procedure you may experience a grittiness or irritation. This irritation lasts about 4 or 5 hours. Some people do experience mild pain after laser vision correction that can be relieved with pain relief tablets (Panadol).

There are several corrective laser eye surgery procedures. After discussion of your specific focusing error and the measurements of your eyes an informed decision can be made as to the most appropriate procedure for you.

PRK: (also referred as ASLA) Photorefractive Keratectomy or Advanced Surface Laser Ablation

The use of one laser, an excimer laser, without the creation of a corneal flap. The surface epithelium is exfoliated to allow the excimer laser to be applied to the corneal bed, remodelling the curvature of the cornea to compensate for the focusing error present. The epithelium then regenerates naturally. Visual recovery is slower than with a LASIK or SMILE procedure, but PRK is often the procedure of choice if the cornea is thin and refractive error is low.  

LASIK: Laser In-situ Keratomileusis

A femotosecond laser is used to form a thin flap on the front of the cornea. The flap is lifted and a second laser, an excimer laser is applied to the exposed deeper corneal layers (stroma), reshaping the stroma to achieve the desired level of correction. The flap is then replaced and correctly repositioned over the modified corneal bed, conforming to the new shape.  

SMILEpro (Small Incision Lenticular Extraction)

The use of just a femtosecond laser to create a “micro incision” rather than a flap. The laser also creates a lenticular shaped piece of tissue that is then removed with forceps via the “micro incision”. SMILEpro is the latest advancement in corrective laser eye surgery, not necessary the procedure of choice for all corrections.   A thorough ophthalmological examination fully informed discussion is required to determine the most appropriate procedure for you and your eyes.  

Active 7D eye tracking The 7D active eye tracker impresses through a number of benefits: Apart from the linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions) it compensates rolling movements of the eye (3rd and 4th dimensions). Compensation of the eye’s rotation around its optical axis is achieved with the static and dynamic Advanced Cyclotorsion Control (5th dimension). Movements along the z-axis (sixth dimension) are actively compensated by means of the z-tracking. Automatic pupil size control and pupil centroid shift compensation ensure additional safety. Latency-Free Tracking in the 7th dimension The new, ground-breaking Latency-Free Tracking considers the time factor, i.e. the 7th dimension. Latency-Free Tracking compensates for eye movements that occur in the period between acquisition of the eyetracker image and triggering of the subsequent laser pulses

How long do I have to be out of my contact lenses prior to my laser eye surgery? Contact lenses can affect the natural curvature of the cornea. You will be required to cease wearing contact lenses for a period of time leading up to your laser eye treatment. This period without contact lenses allows the cornea to return to its natural state, which will optimise the treatment outcome. The period without contact lenses depends on the type of contact lens that you are wearing.

• Soft daily wear or disposable contact lenses should not be worn for two weeks before laser eye surgery.
• Soft toric (astigmatism correcting) contact lenses. This type of contact lens "moulds" the cornea more than a standard soft contact lens. Therefore we advise you to cease wearing soft toric contact lenses for three weeks prior to your laser vision correction.
• Hard or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. This type of lens maintains its own shape while on your eye. They therefore have a greater moulding effect on the cornea. You will need to cease wearing hard or RGP lenses for 6-8 weeks prior to your laser eye surgery.
• Orthokeratology known as Ortho-K is a concept akin to wearing a retainer on your teeth overnight! With Ortho-K specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea to provide temporary correction during waking hours with lenses removed to correct refractive errors (primarily short sightedness, but also astigmatism and long sightedness). The corneal reshaping does fade throughout the day as the cornea slowly reverts back to its natural shape once the lenses are removed. For patients under about 20 years of age Ortho-K provides an effective modality for slowing the progression of myopia. If you are seeking a permanent correction for your focusing error with laser eye surgery and have been wearing Ortho-K lenses it will take several weeks for your cornea to return to it’s nature state before surgery can be performed.We can discuss this more specifically with you on a case by case basis, as it does depend on your focusing error and the period of time you have been using Ortho-K. Please contact us directly to discuss your personal situation.

Every procedure has the possibility of complications, with the majority of these resolving over time or being able to be managed with further treatment by Dr Kent:

• Mild dry eye - Some people experience mild to moderate dry eye symptoms after laser eye treatment. Use of lubricating eyedrops may be required. By 3-6 months the eyes are usually back to normal.
• Undercorrection - If the refraction is not fully corrected and it causes a problem then an enhancement procedure can usually correct it.
• Overcorrection - An initial overcorrection is expected for high corrections and in hyperopia.
• Induced astigmatism - Can usually be corrected with enhancement procedure.
• Regression – This is the normal healing of the eye and results in undercorrection. It is corrected with enhancement procedure.
• Infection -We have had only one case in over 30,000 LASIK procedures which quickly responded to antibiotic eyedrops and resolved without complication.

 

Normally we ask that you have a quiet day the day after your laser eye surgery procedure. If you have LASIK or SMILEpro laser, most people have their surgery on a Thursday, and are back at work on Monday. You should relax completely immediately after the surgery. If you have PRK treatment the recovery time is longer. You are best to plan to be off work for seven days.

All laser eye surgery procedures whether it be SMILEpro laser, LASIK or PRK are all a permanent change to the shape of the eye. Correcting the measured amount of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism at the time of the laser eye surgery procedure. In rare cases a full correction may not be achievable, if you have a high correction and a thin cornea. We will discuss this with you at your initial assessment. This may mean that you will need to wear spectacles occasionally eg driving at night time. Laser eye surgery will not prevent your eyes from the normal ageing process. There are some people who will have a change in their eyes with time. This can be either progression of myopia or hyperopia. There is no way of predicting if changes will occur with your eyes after your treatment prior to laser vision correction but we do look for stability in your correction ie no significant change in the strength or your glasses or contact lenses over the preceding one to two years and use this as an indicator of the stability of your vision before proceeding with a laser eye surgery procedure. As with all people who have normal distance vision in both eyes you will require spectacles for reading at around age 45+. This aging of the eyes necessitating reading glasses at around 45+ in people with normal distance vision is called Presbyopia. The only way to minimise your dependence for near vision spectacles once you become presbyopic is to have monovision (or blended vision). Monovision is where one eye is treated so that it is fully corrected for the distance while the other eye is focused for near vision. If you are considering a blended vision option we would give you some disposable contact lenses to simulate what the treatment would achieve and get you to trial this to determine for yourself whether or not monovision will suit your lifestyle. We would be happy to discuss monovision with you further. Please contact us directly.

LASIK is the most widely performed corrective laser eye surgery technique worldwide for the correction of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. The first LASIK procedures were performed in Europe in 1991 and in New Zealand in 1995. Tens of millions of people worldwide have reaped the benefits of reduced spectacle dependence by having had LASIK.

Our excimer laser (the laser that performs the actual correction during LASIK or PRK), the Schwind Amaris 1050RS, registers all movements with an eye tracking system that compensates every movement of the eye up to the seventh dimension. An analogy to explain the advanced seven dimensional eye tracker is to imagine your eyeball being a buoy in the sea: When the sea is calm, the buoy shifts from the left to the right or forward and backward. In a swell, however, the buoy tilts to the side. Furthermore, a buoy also turns around its anchorage or moves up and down. In the same manner, your eyeball can make linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions), rolling movements (3rd and 4th dimensions), rotate around its own axis (5th dimension) or move up and down along the z-axis (6th dimension). The 7th dimension considers the time factor and compensates for eye movements that occur during the reaction time of the laser system. That means our laser treatment is delivered without latency. Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch are the only laser centre in the South Island with this most advanced laser technology of a seven dimensional eye tracker for the safety and accuracy of your treatment.

For your treatment you are required to lie on a bed in our laser theatre, your head is supported in a moulded pillow:

• it is best to wear comfortable loose fitting clothes, clothes that are comfortable to lie down in
• trousers are more practical than a dress or skirt
• please remove any earrings
• we advise wearing a loose fitting top or shirt, an item of clothing that can easily be taken off at the end of the day without any pressure over your eyes on removal

The current fee is $3,750 per eye — this includes your consultation, surgery (SMILEpro, LASIK or PRK), and six months of follow-up care within New Zealand. Can I get finance? Yes. Finance options are available — more details are available on our Laser Eye Finance page. How can I pay? We accept EFTPOS, credit card, bank transfer, and finance plans. Can I use insurance for laser eye surgery? Coverage varies by provider and policy, so we recommend checking with your insurer directly.

The decision as to which intraocular lens to be used is one you make at the consultation with the operating surgeon, based on the health of your eyes and your specific lifestyle visual requirements.

• Multifocal IOLs are the most popular choice of IOL's at Fendalton Eye Clinic due to this type of lens providing a range of clear focus from distance through to close range so the aim of these lenses is to minimise the need for spectacles at any distance but if you are doing fine needle work or reading in bed holding a book at very close range you may require reading glasses for more comfortable detailed near vision.
• Monofocal IOLs, these provide clear focus at one distance, generally optimising distance vision so you would require spectacles for near tasks such as reading, computer work etc.
• Monovision or blended vision using monofocal IOLs - in one eye an IOL is used to optimise distance vision while the other eye an IOL is chosen to optimise vision at close range. The effect is one of blended vision, keeping both eyes open but favouring one eye to read and the other for clear distance vision.

Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) is a refined surgical procedure where the lens of your eye is replaced with a high performance intraocular lens (IOL) to provide long term vision correction.

RLE surgery is essentially the same elegant precise surgical procedure as cataract surgery but is performed to correct vision before a cataract (clouding of the lens) develops. RLE surgery is an elective procedure with the goal being to enhance vision to reduce the need for a spectacle correction.

People over ~45 with presbyopia (need for reading correction) who also need corrective lenses to see clearly in the distance and are motivated to reduce dependence on glasses or contact lenses.

A consultation for RLE is approximately 90 minutes. Your appointment begins with one of our experienced ophthalmic technicians who will take several measurements of your eyes on diagnostic equipment.  You will then meet with the eye surgeon, who will examine the health of your eyes and discuss which options best suit your eye condition and lifestyle needs. Your eye surgeon will tailor a unique treatment plan for you. The eye surgeon will answer any questions that you may have about your RLE surgery.

Yes. RLE surgery uses the same proven surgical techniques as cataract surgery, one of the safest procedures worldwide. As with any surgical procedure there are risks which your eye surgeon will go over with you at your consultation.

Dr Kent and Dr Munro both perform RLE and cataract operations at Christchurch Eye Surgery, a purpose built eye surgery day hospital located at 274 Papanui Road in Christchurch.

Yes, it’s common to treat both eyes one after the other. If you would prefer to have one eye treated first and the second eye at a later date you can discuss this option with your eye surgeon.

No. The eye is numbed with anaesthetic drops, sometimes the eye surgeon may also use an anaesthetic block around the eye and most people feel only mild pressure.

The actual time for the surgical procedure (for either cataract or refractive lens exchange) is around 20 minutes per eye. Additional time does need to be factored in for preparation and recovery. If both eyes are treated you will be at Christchurch Eye Surgery for approximately 3 hours on the day of your surgery. You will need to have someone drive you home after the surgery, we recommend that you rest at home over the immediate hours after your surgery.

Most people notice clearer vision within 24–48 hours after surgery, and many can resume normal daily activities within a few days. Driving and returning to work are usually possible once your vision meets safe driving standards, though this varies depending on individual healing and the type of work you do. Most people return to usual daily activities within the first few days, however full stabilisation of vision can take up to three months. It’s important to use all prescribed medicated eye drops during the initial weeks, and your surgeon may recommend preservative free lubricating drops as your eyes continue to heal.

The risks of RLE are similar to those of cataract surgery. These may include dry eye and inflammation, which is generally managed with eyedrops. You may be aware of visual effects such as halos, glare, or starbursts. The visual effects typically improve over several weeks to months as the brain adapts (a process known as neuroadaptation). Rare but more serious risks include infection inside the eye and retinal detachment.

No. Because the lens of the eye is replaced, a cataract (clouding of the lens of the eye) cannot form as the lens is no longer in the eye.

Avoid rubbing your eyes. Avoid swimming for 5 days. Avoid wearing eye makeup for 3 days or longer if your eyes feel irritable.

Yes. The lens implant is designed to last for life.

The cost of RLE surgery is generally not covered by private insurance, as it’s considered an elective vision correction procedure.

Laser eye surgery works by reshaping the cornea to adjust how the eye focuses. In contrast, RLE surgery involves replacing the lens of the eye with an artificial lens. RLE can be a better option for people who need different prescriptions for distance and near vision, who currently rely on glasses or contact lenses for both. The best way to determine which procedure is right for you is to book a free screening assessment a 30 minute appointment with a member of our technical team. During this visit, we’ll take detailed measurements and scans of your eyes and recommend the most suitable treatment options for your vision.

Most patients enjoy a clearer, broader range of vision with less need for glasses. The visual outcome depends on the lens selected:  

• Monofocal IOLs: provide crisp vision at a set focus, usually correcting for distance vision. Though you can have a monofocal IOL inserted in one eye for clear distance vision and the other eye have a monofocal IOL for near vision, this is called monovision or “blended vision”.
• Extended range: smooth vision for distance and mid-range activities. Glasses would be required for reading or tasks within arm’s length distance.
• Full range of vision IOLs: the greatest independence from spectacles across near, intermediate, and distance tasks. You may require magnifying spectacles if you are doing an extremely fine detailed task for a prolonged period.

Your eye surgeon will guide you through the lens options best aligned with your goals.  

Yes. All of the different categories of IOLs come in a toric lens design which can elegantly correct astigmatism.

Possibly, depending on the IOL. Even with the most advanced lenses, some patients prefer glasses for very fine print, prolonged reading, or tasks in dim light. We aim for the highest level of visual independence without over promising results.

You need to be at least 20 years of age and have had no change in your glasses or contact lens prescription for at least a year. Laser eye surgery can correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism.

Dr Kent can correct focusing errors in the range of -10 to +5 with laser eye surgery. If you are beyond this level of short sightedness or long sightedness you may still be able to have a procedure to correct your focusing error other than a corrective laser procedure.

You might be better suited to a Lifestyle lens procedure or Implantable contact lens procedure depending on your glasses prescription, age and lifestyle demands.

Astigmatism is treated with the laser at the same time as your shortsightedness or long sightedness is corrected.

Your eyes must be in good ocular health, with no pre-existing untreated eye disease.

Laser vision correction is not recommended if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

If you suffer from an auto-immune disorder you will need to discuss your suitability further with Dr Kent.

The expertise and experience of Dr David Kent combined with the quality of the technology we have at Fendalton Eye Clinic.

• Our staff care about giving you the best result for you as an individual, finding the most appropriate procedure for you based on your unique focusing error and lifestyle requirements.
• Dr. Kent is one of the most experienced surgeons for laser vision correction in Australasia having performed over 28,000 laser eye surgery procedures. Dr Kent has performed more LASIK procedures than any other New Zealand eye surgeon. For optimal results surgeon experience counts.
• We are the only clinic in the South Island to offer you the safety, accuracy and superior results of the Schwind Amaris 1050RS excimer laser, the most advanced excimer laser with it's smart pulse technology and the unparalleled accuracy of a seven dimensional active eye tracker.
• Every laser eye treatment is tailor-made to each individual eye.
• We do everything we can to give you the best result possible. Follow up after laser eye surgery at Fendalton Eye Clinic is for six months. Within New Zealand the cost of follow up appointments is met by Fendalton Eye Clinic.
• At Fendalton Eye Clinic we have a state-of-the-art purpose-built laser eye surgery theatre.

Generally beyond the sixth decade of life there is a high likelihood that you will have early or mild cataracts. If there is any sign of early cataracts it is more appropriate to perform surgery to remove the deteriorating lens, lifestyle lens replacement or cataract extraction, replacing the natural lens of the eye with an intraocular implant. In most cases we would use a multifocal intraocular lens to give the best chance of seeing clearly for both distance and near vision without spectacles following extraction of the lens.  

Since 1997 Dr Kent has performed corrective laser eye surgery on more than four hundred medical doctors and optometrists combined. Dr Kent has performed laser vision correction procedures on five of his staff members and several of his relatives. Dr Kent has also treated many national sporting representatives.

All laser eye surgery vision correction procedures are performed with anaesthetic drops placed in the eye which are extremely effective at completely numbing your eyes.

A femtosecond laser generates light pulses as short as one quadrillionth of a second. Femtosecond technology has opened up a whole new area of scientific study, femtochemistry, which won the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The application of the femtosecond laser in ophthalmology was developed by physicists, biomedical engineers and ophthalmologists at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Sciences and the Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, USA. The femtosecond laser has become the most accurate and safest technology for the creation of the corneal flap the first step in the LASIK procedure. The Zeiss Visumax femtosecond laser has enabled the latest laser eye surgery technique to be achieved SMILE eye laser.

Anaesthetic eye drops are placed into your eye prior to laser eye surgery treatment to numb the eye so there is usually no pain experienced during the procedure. You will be aware of some pressure against your eye. For several hours after your laser eye procedure you may experience a grittiness or irritation. This irritation lasts about 4 or 5 hours. Some people do experience mild pain after laser vision correction that can be relieved with pain relief tablets (Panadol).

There are several corrective laser eye surgery procedures. After discussion of your specific focusing error and the measurements of your eyes an informed decision can be made as to the most appropriate procedure for you.

PRK: (also referred as ASLA) Photorefractive Keratectomy or Advanced Surface Laser Ablation

The use of one laser, an excimer laser, without the creation of a corneal flap. The surface epithelium is exfoliated to allow the excimer laser to be applied to the corneal bed, remodelling the curvature of the cornea to compensate for the focusing error present. The epithelium then regenerates naturally. Visual recovery is slower than with a LASIK or SMILE procedure, but PRK is often the procedure of choice if the cornea is thin and refractive error is low.  

LASIK: Laser In-situ Keratomileusis

A femotosecond laser is used to form a thin flap on the front of the cornea. The flap is lifted and a second laser, an excimer laser is applied to the exposed deeper corneal layers (stroma), reshaping the stroma to achieve the desired level of correction. The flap is then replaced and correctly repositioned over the modified corneal bed, conforming to the new shape.  

SMILEpro (Small Incision Lenticular Extraction)

The use of just a femtosecond laser to create a “micro incision” rather than a flap. The laser also creates a lenticular shaped piece of tissue that is then removed with forceps via the “micro incision”. SMILEpro is the latest advancement in corrective laser eye surgery, not necessary the procedure of choice for all corrections.   A thorough ophthalmological examination fully informed discussion is required to determine the most appropriate procedure for you and your eyes.  

Active 7D eye tracking The 7D active eye tracker impresses through a number of benefits: Apart from the linear movements (1st and 2nd dimensions) it compensates rolling movements of the eye (3rd and 4th dimensions). Compensation of the eye’s rotation around its optical axis is achieved with the static and dynamic Advanced Cyclotorsion Control (5th dimension). Movements along the z-axis (sixth dimension) are actively compensated by means of the z-tracking. Automatic pupil size control and pupil centroid shift compensation ensure additional safety. Latency-Free Tracking in the 7th dimension The new, ground-breaking Latency-Free Tracking considers the time factor, i.e. the 7th dimension. Latency-Free Tracking compensates for eye movements that occur in the period between acquisition of the eyetracker image and triggering of the subsequent laser pulses

How long do I have to be out of my contact lenses prior to my laser eye surgery? Contact lenses can affect the natural curvature of the cornea. You will be required to cease wearing contact lenses for a period of time leading up to your laser eye treatment. This period without contact lenses allows the cornea to return to its natural state, which will optimise the treatment outcome. The period without contact lenses depends on the type of contact lens that you are wearing.

• Soft daily wear or disposable contact lenses should not be worn for two weeks before laser eye surgery.
• Soft toric (astigmatism correcting) contact lenses. This type of contact lens "moulds" the cornea more than a standard soft contact lens. Therefore we advise you to cease wearing soft toric contact lenses for three weeks prior to your laser vision correction.
• Hard or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. This type of lens maintains its own shape while on your eye. They therefore have a greater moulding effect on the cornea. You will need to cease wearing hard or RGP lenses for 6-8 weeks prior to your laser eye surgery.
• Orthokeratology known as Ortho-K is a concept akin to wearing a retainer on your teeth overnight! With Ortho-K specially designed rigid gas permeable contact lenses are worn overnight to reshape the cornea to provide temporary correction during waking hours with lenses removed to correct refractive errors (primarily short sightedness, but also astigmatism and long sightedness). The corneal reshaping does fade throughout the day as the cornea slowly reverts back to its natural shape once the lenses are removed. For patients under about 20 years of age Ortho-K provides an effective modality for slowing the progression of myopia. If you are seeking a permanent correction for your focusing error with laser eye surgery and have been wearing Ortho-K lenses it will take several weeks for your cornea to return to it’s nature state before surgery can be performed.We can discuss this more specifically with you on a case by case basis, as it does depend on your focusing error and the period of time you have been using Ortho-K. Please contact us directly to discuss your personal situation.

Normally we ask that you have a quiet day the day after your laser eye surgery procedure. If you have LASIK or SMILEpro laser, most people have their surgery on a Thursday, and are back at work on Monday. You should relax completely immediately after the surgery. If you have PRK treatment the recovery time is longer. You are best to plan to be off work for seven days.

All laser eye surgery procedures whether it be SMILEpro laser, LASIK or PRK are all a permanent change to the shape of the eye. Correcting the measured amount of short sightedness (myopia), long sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism at the time of the laser eye surgery procedure. In rare cases a full correction may not be achievable, if you have a high correction and a thin cornea. We will discuss this with you at your initial assessment. This may mean that you will need to wear spectacles occasionally eg driving at night time. Laser eye surgery will not prevent your eyes from the normal ageing process. There are some people who will have a change in their eyes with time. This can be either progression of myopia or hyperopia. There is no way of predicting if changes will occur with your eyes after your treatment prior to laser vision correction but we do look for stability in your correction ie no significant change in the strength or your glasses or contact lenses over the preceding one to two years and use this as an indicator of the stability of your vision before proceeding with a laser eye surgery procedure. As with all people who have normal distance vision in both eyes you will require spectacles for reading at around age 45+. This aging of the eyes necessitating reading glasses at around 45+ in people with normal distance vision is called Presbyopia. The only way to minimise your dependence for near vision spectacles once you become presbyopic is to have monovision (or blended vision). Monovision is where one eye is treated so that it is fully corrected for the distance while the other eye is focused for near vision. If you are considering a blended vision option we would give you some disposable contact lenses to simulate what the treatment would achieve and get you to trial this to determine for yourself whether or not monovision will suit your lifestyle. We would be happy to discuss monovision with you further. Please contact us directly.

For your treatment you are required to lie on a bed in our laser theatre, your head is supported in a moulded pillow:

• it is best to wear comfortable loose fitting clothes, clothes that are comfortable to lie down in
• trousers are more practical than a dress or skirt
• please remove any earrings
• we advise wearing a loose fitting top or shirt, an item of clothing that can easily be taken off at the end of the day without any pressure over your eyes on removal

The current fee is $3,750 per eye — this includes your consultation, surgery (SMILEpro, LASIK or PRK), and six months of follow-up care within New Zealand. Can I get finance? Yes. Finance options are available — more details are available on our Laser Eye Finance page. How can I pay? We accept EFTPOS, credit card, bank transfer, and finance plans. Can I use insurance for laser eye surgery? Coverage varies by provider and policy, so we recommend checking with your insurer directly.