Free assessments for laser eye surgery, refractive lens exchange and cataract surgery - vision correction in Nelson

Helping Nelson See Life More Clearly

Our free, no-obligation suitability assessments in Nelson are designed to help you understand whether lens or laser eye surgery correction may be right for you. Conducted by one of our experienced ophthalmic technicians, the assessment includes a detailed review of your vision, prescription, eye health and lifestyle needs.

During your assessment, we perform advanced, non-invasive testing, including corneal mapping technology to analyse the shape and thickness of your cornea, along with tests that assess your eye’s focusing ability. These detailed measurements help us determine your suitability for lens or laser eye surgery and identify the option that is most appropriate for your eyes, lifestyle and visual goals. We will also explain the different treatment options available and answer any questions you may have.

Depending on your age, prescription and visual needs, suitable treatment options may include LASIK, SMILE pro, PRK, implantable contact lenses (ICL), refractive lens exchange (RLE), or modern cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses.

Whether you’re from Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Mapua, Wakefield or elsewhere in the Nelson Tasman region, our Nelson assessment clinics provide a convenient way to explore your vision correction options closer to home. Held at the Tides Hotel Nelson, these clinics offer a central and easily accessible location close to the city centre, with convenient parking nearby. Assessment clinics are typically held every 6 to 8 weeks, making it easy to access expert advice without travelling to Christchurch. If you are unable to find a suitable clinic date, we also offer virtual suitability assessments via Zoom or telephone, allowing you to discuss your vision correction options with our team from the comfort of your own home. All appointments are booked directly through Fendalton Eye Clinic, where our team can guide you through the process and answer any questions.

Fendalton Eye Clinic is proud to be the South Island’s only accredited laser eye surgery centre.

Your Journey To Clearer Vision

If you’re a suitable candidate and choose to proceed, you’ll travel to Christchurch for a consultation with your operating surgeon. This appointment gives you the opportunity to discuss your vision goals, explore your treatment options, and ask any questions before making an informed decision about surgery.

For laser vision correction procedures such as LASIK, SMILE pro and PRK, surgery can often be performed the day after your consultation, helping to minimise travel for patients visiting from Nelson and throughout the Nelson Tasman region. For ICL,  RLE and cataract surgery, a separate surgery date is arranged following your consultation so that your customised intraocular lenses can be ordered specifically for your eyes.

To make your stay in Christchurch as comfortable and convenient as possible, Fendalton Eye Clinic has arranged special accommodation rates with the Commodore Hotel and Airport Palms Motel. These packages include transport between the airport, your accommodation and the Fendalton Eye Clinic for appointments, helping to reduce the cost and stress of travelling for treatment. Please refer to our website for full terms and conditions.

LASIK, SMILE pro and PRK,  procedures are performed at Fendalton Eye Clinic, while ICL,  RLE and cataract surgery are performed at Christchurch Eye Surgery. A post-operative review is required the following day, after which ongoing follow-up care can often be coordinated with your local optometrist in Nelson, Richmond or elsewhere in the Nelson Tasman region, helping to minimise further travel to Christchurch. Most patients are able to fly home the day after their one-day post-operative check.

Why Choose the Experts?

Choosing vision correction surgery is an important decision. With more than 36,000 vision correction procedures performed, Dr David Kent and Dr Zea Munro are among New Zealand’s most experienced refractive surgeons. Their focus is simple: helping you achieve the best possible vision while providing clear advice, personalised care and support every step of the way.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Book your free suitability assessment in Nelson and discover whether laser eye surgery or lens-based vision correction could help you enjoy greater freedom from glasses and contact lenses. If our upcoming Nelson clinic dates don’t suit, you can still access the same expert guidance through a free virtual assessment by Zoom or telephone from the comfort of your home.  Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive the same comprehensive assessment and personalised advice before any treatment is considered.

Call 0800 DR EYES (0800 37 39 37), book online, or take our two-minute suitability quiz to get started.

Book Your Free Nelson Suitability Assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

Where and how often are lens or laser eye surgery free assessments available in Nelson?

An experienced ophthalmic technician from Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch, travels to Nelson approximately every 6 to 8 weeks to conduct free suitability assessments to determine if refractive lens exchange, cataract surgery or laser eye surgery is right for you. The assessments are held at Tides Hotel (formerly Trailways), 66 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010. Please note Tides Hotel is simply our venue, all bookings are directly with Fendalton Eye Clinic: book online or call 0800 DR EYES (0800 37 39 37) and we'll confirm the next available Nelson date.  If the dates we are in Nelson don’t suit you, we have Zoom or phone consultations available each week.  

Do I need a referral from my optometrist or GP to have a suitability assessment for lens or laser eye surgery?

No — no referral is needed. You can book your free assessment directly with us: at Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch, at one of our satellite clinics, or as a virtual assessment by Zoom or phone. If you wear glasses, please bring your most recent pair. Contact lens wearers can wear their lenses to the screening assessment — just bring your lens case, as you'll take them out during the appointment so we can accurately measure the front surface of your eyes. If you have a recent prescription or your optometrist has records, bring them along — helpful, but not required.

How many trips to Christchurch will I need?

For laser eye surgery SMILE pro, LASIK or PRK your consultation and procedure can often happen on consecutive days. A popular pattern for out-of-town patients: a full consultation with your operating surgeon (ophthalmologist) on Wednesday afternoon, your laser procedure on Thursday, and a post-operative check early Friday morning before heading home. Some people stay the weekend and enjoy the Garden City — from the vibrant Riverside Markets, Antarctic Centre, Britten Museum, Hagley Park and Botanic Gardens to our new Te Kaha stadium — and our accommodation partners offer special rates, including transport to and from the airport and to and from Fendalton Eye Clinic.

If your eyes are better suited to an implantable contact lens (ICL), refractive lens exchange (RLE) or cataract surgery, you'll make two trips: at your first consultation, your ophthalmologist calculates the exact custom lens your eyes need; the lens is then ordered — sometimes from Europe — and your surgery is scheduled for a second visit once it arrives, usually within a month of the consultation appointment. Lens procedures are performed by Dr Kent or Dr Munro at Christchurch Eye Surgery, a private day stay purpose built eye hospital — with a check-up at Fendalton Eye Clinic the following day before you head home.

Either way, after your one day post-operative check we are happy to liaise with your local optometrist for any further follow-up appointments to be done for you locally.

How much does laser eye surgery cost?

The current fee is $3,750 per eye — this includes your consultation, surgery (SMILE pro, LASIK or PRK), and six months of follow-up care within New Zealand. Can I get finance? Yes. Finance options are available at Fendalton Eye Clinic — more details are available on our Laser Eye Finance page. How can I pay? We accept EFTPOS, credit card, bank transfer, and finance plans.  

Do I need to stay in Christchurch after my surgery?

Yes. Following your procedure, you will need a post-operative check the next day before travelling home. To make your stay in Christchurch as convenient as possible, Fendalton Eye Clinic has special accommodation arrangements with the Commodore Hotel and Airport Palms Motel. These accommodation options offer preferential rates for our patients and include transport to and from the airport, as well as transfers between your accommodation and Fendalton Eye Clinic for your appointments, helping to make your surgical journey as comfortable and stress-free as possible. After your one day post-operative check with the surgeon at Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch, we can liaise with your local optometrist and arrange ongoing follow-up.

What options are there for intraocular lens (IOL) surgery?

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.

Can I have my assessment by Zoom instead of waiting for a Nelson clinic day?

Yes, if you can't find a date when Fendalton Eye Clinic will be in Nelson,  you can book a Zoom or phone consultation, available every week, from anywhere in New Zealand. Or start with our two-minute online suitability quiz today.    

How do I find out which vision correction eye surgery is right for me in Nelson?

You don't need to work it out yourself — your eyes hold the answer. Whether the best option is a laser procedure  (SMILE pro, LASIK or PRK ), an Implantable Contact Lens (ICL) procedure or – from the mid-40s onwards, or if a cataract is developing –  Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) or cataract surgery, the starting point is the same: a free, no-obligation 30-minute screening lens or laser eye surgery assessment with our experienced technical team. We take detailed measurements of your eyes — nothing touches your eyes — we measure the thickness of your cornea and evaluate the shape of the cornea, and we discuss your lifestyle and visual goals before recommending the procedure that will give your eyes the best result. If you'd like to see how the options compare first, our guide SMILE pro vs LASIK vs PRK vs ICL: which is right for you? walks through all four side by side. Free in-person assessments are held in Nelson approximately every 6–8 weeks — or start sooner with a Zoom or phone consultation, or visit us at Fendalton Eye Clinic in Christchurch, where assessments are available throughout the week. Call 0800 DR EYES (0800 37 39 37) or book a free suitability assessment online for Nelson. Call 0800 DR EYES (0800 37 39 37) or book your free suitability assessment online.

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