Laser Vision Correction, or Laser Eye Surgery, uses laser to change the shape of the cornea (surface of your eye) to correct focusing errors (like short sightedness and astigmatism) with extreme precision. At Auckland Eye we offer three main options for laser eye surgery, including SMILE Pro, the most advanced laser vision correction technology. We were the leaders bringing SMILE technology to Auckland in 2015 and now we have invested in the safest version of SMILE Pro for our patients. You’ll need a full assessment from one our specialists to see which option is right for you: SMILE Pro (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) – the quickest, most technologically advanced and precise laser eye surgery in the world. This one step, one laser, keyhole laser eye surgery has been designed and perfected by Carl Zeiss – a huge step forward in laser treatments. LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) – the most well known laser eye surgery. Millions of people worldwide have already benefited from this advanced two step, two laser technique, with proven results. PRK (Photo-Refractive Keratectomy) – the original proven and effective laser eye surgery. Though LASIK is a more common treatment, PRK is a safer option for those people unable to have LASIK because of thinner corneas. Auckland Eye offers a free assessment to patients interested in laser eye surgery and the appointment usually takes approx 45 minutes to complete. Please call 0800 639393 or visit www.aucklandeyelaser.co.nz for more information.

A cataract is a progressive cloudiness that develops inside the lens of the eye. As it progresses, light passing through the eye is reduced and people often notice their eyesight becoming more and more blurry, colours lose their brightness and driving at night can become problematic. Once a cataract affects vision too much, a cataract removal operation is generally advised. This decision is usually made in consultation with an eye specialist. The operation is almost always done under local anaesthetic. Once the cataract has been removed an artificial lens is put in to replace it. It is relatively short in duration and an overnight stay in hospital is not required. Post-operative care consists of eye drops and a check at 1-2 days then after 2-4 weeks. Please bring to your appointment for your cataract assessment your glasses and the names of any medications you use. You will have your eyes examined and this normally requires dilating drops being placed into your eyes which can make it difficult to drive home, so it is advisable to bring a driver. If a cataract removal is advised, you will require a few more eye measurements and then you will meet a surgical bookings clerk to arrange a date in the future for the surgery. The whole appointment will normally take approximately an hour to complete. Click here for more information.

A squint or strabismus is present when the two eyes are not looking in the same direction. It may be apparent all the time or only when a patient is tired, unwell or focusing on either a near or distant object. It affects mainly children under the age of seven but can also affect adults as a long standing or recurring problem, or following a nerve palsy. Children suspected of a squint should be seen promptly by an eye specialist. No child is too young to be seen. The appointment will take up to an hour as your child will have their eyesight checked, possibly other measurements taken and then drops put in their eyes. The drops can take up to forty minutes to work. The doctor can then accurately check the eye focus and health and prescribe glasses if necessary. If your child does have an eye problem, then they will need regular checks until they are approximately seven when their eye and brain connections start to mature. In adults a squint from a nerve palsy may improve on its own and treatment may be delayed until the squint has stabilised. Your initial appointment may take up to an hour and you will have measurements taken of your eyes and possibly your pupils dilated. The doctor may also request some additional tests i.e.blood tests to decide what may be causing the squint. In both children and adults, surgical correction of the squint may be necessary. This usually involves a general anaesthetic. In the procedure, the muscles involved are repositioned to correct the alignment.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and may result in vision loss and blindness. Multiple factors are often important in causing glaucoma, but it is most commonly related to an increase in pressure in the eye. Symptoms are generally absent until the condition has progressed to an advanced stage. Very occasionally, a rarer form of glaucoma can develop suddenly and symptoms may then include: headaches and aches around the affected eye, seeing halos around lights, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting. You may be more likely to develop glaucoma if you: have someone else in your family with glaucoma already have high pressure in your eye have experienced injury to your eye have or have had certain other eye problems have migraine or circulation problems. Glaucoma is more common in people over 50 years of age and more common in women than men. Actual diagnosis of glaucoma can be difficult and may take months or even years, with repeat testing to determine its presence or absence. Diagnosis is usually confirmed by an eye doctor but signs of glaucoma may also be picked up at an optometrist’s eye examination. The following tests are used to diagnose and monitor glaucoma: Tonometry – measures eye pressure. It is often the first screening test for glaucoma. The eyes are numbed with eye drops and then examined. Dilated eye exam - this is done with an ophthalmoscope (which is a medical instrument that allows the doctor to look through the pupil to the back of the eye).The retina and optic nerve are then examined for any sign of damage. Visual acuity test – test to check distance vision using an eye chart. Visual field test – test to measure side (peripheral) vision. Pachymetry – test to measure the thickness of the cornea. OCT - Nerve fibre layer measurement can aid in diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma. Digital photo's - used to obtain a baseline reading of the optic nerve and monitor any possible glaucoma changes over time. Many other new techniques are emerging to help identify the likelihood of glaucoma and help determine its rate of worsening. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early treatment can prevent further worsening of the condition and vision loss. Regular eye examinations will need to be continued life-long. When you attend for your initial assessment please bring your glasses with you and any medication you take on a regular basis. It is advisable to bring a driver to your appointment as you may have dilating drops put in your eyes and this can make driving home difficult. You will have some of the tests listed above at your initial appointment and may then require repeat testing on a regular basis if glaucoma is suspected. Eye drops to decrease eye pressure are the most common early treatment. Surgery may be required, especially if medications are not taking adequate effect. Laser trabeculoplasty, in which a surgeon uses a laser to help the fluid drain from the eye, may be considered in some cases, but has limited effectiveness. More commonly, a trabeculectomy may be performed when other methods have failed to adequately control pressure. This is a medium length operation that makes a new opening for fluid to drain from the eye.

This is a complication of diabetes and is caused by small blood vessel damage within the retina of the eye. It commonly affects both eyes and may cause permanent loss of vision. Macular oedema is sometimes also present with diabetic retinopathy. Macular oedema is when fluid leaks into the retina and causes swelling and blurred vision. This may occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy, but is more common as the disease progresses. There are often no symptoms in the early stages but as the condition progresses vision may begin to become impaired. Often visual loss may be sudden and without warning. This is why it is imperative that at-risk diabetics have frequent eye checks. Poorly controlled diabetes and pregnancy in diabetes are risk factors for developing this condition. When you are referrred for an initial assessment please bring to your appointment: The appointment slip and a referral letter if you have one Any glasses you are currently using Arrange for someone to drive you. You will have drops put in your eyes to dilate the pupils which allows the doctor to look at the back of the eye in greater detail. Drops can take a while to work, so please allow an hour for your appointment. Often, first-stage diabetic retinopathy requires no active treatment on the eye but requires stabilisation of diabetes and regular eye examinations. With progressive retinopathy, a laser treatment called the PRP laser can be used. This works by shrinking enlarged blood vessels to prevent further bleeding into the retina. Severe bleeding may require a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy, where blood is surgically removed from the eye. Treatment of macular oedema, if present, is by focal laser treatment. Vision is stabilised by reducing the degree of fluid leakage into the retina. Often more than one treatment is required.

This is when the retina (the back layer of the eye) detaches, meaning it lifts or separates from its normal position within the eye. An acute retinal detachment requires urgent assessment and appropriate treatment. Unless prompt and effective treatment is given, some forms of retinal detachment may lead to irreversible blindness. Signs and symptoms include: a sudden or gradual increase in floaters deterioration in vision cobwebs or specks with the visual field (peripheral vision) light flashes in the eye or the appearance of curtains over the visual field (peripheral vision). You are more likely to have a retinal detachment if you are very short-sighted or have had an injury or previous surgery to the eye. At your assessment for a possible retinal detatchment you will have drops put in your eyes to dilate the pupil and allow the doctor a better view of the back of the eye. This will make driving home difficult, so it is advisable to bring a driver. Please also bring along any glasses that you wear and any medication you take. The appointment will take approximately an hour. If treatment is indicated, this may be done whilst you are at the clinic or another date organised in the near future. For minor detachments, a laser or freeze treatment (cryopexy) are used. Both therapies re-attach the retina. For major detachment, surgery will be necessary. A band is often put around the back of the eye to prevent further detachment. Surgical treatment is usually a vitrectomy, where the jelly (vitreous which also sits in the back of the eye) is removed. This often involves a hospital stay. It can take several months post-surgery to see the final visual result.

Blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, aims to restore the natural contour of the eyelids for cosmetic or functional purposes. Blepharoplasty is surgery that lifts and tightens the skin around the eye. With ageing, the skin loses its natural elasticity, causing the eyebrows to droop and redundant skin to appear on the upper and lower eyelids. Muscles around the eye may also thicken (hypertrophic), particularly in smokers. In addition, many people lose fat around the eye, resulting in a sunken appearance. The connective tissue layers in the eyelids may thin out, causing fat to move downwards and form ‘bags’ under the eyes. Loss of elasticity and subcutaneous fat often leads to an increase in wrinkle formation and permanent lines. Some people also choose blepharoplasty because they are unhappy with the natural appearance or shape of the skin around their eyes. Depending on your concern, there are three variations of blepharoplasty: upper eyelid, lower eyelid and Asian. As the anatomy of the eye is complex and the tissue surrounding the eye is delicate, only a surgeon with training in both ophthalmology and plastic surgery should perform blepharoplasty. Oculoplastic surgeons’ advanced training is specific to the eye, making them true eyelid experts. How surgery works Upper or lower blepharoplasty for both eyes generally takes 60 to 90 minutes. Surgeons perform most cases on outpatients under local anaesthetic. Some patients may also choose intravenous sedation or, very occasionally, a general anaesthetic. In upper lid surgery, the incision is made through the skin crease. Following the removal of excess tissue, the resulting wound is sutured. These sutures are removed within five to seven days. In lower lid surgery, the incision is made just below the lashes if the skin is excised. However, in cases where only fat is removed, the incision is made from inside the lid through the conjunctiva. These sutures dissolve without the need for removal. Recovery Generally, the eyelids will take one to two weeks to settle. You may experience some swelling and bruising which can be minimised by firm patching initially and with regular use of ice pads for 48 to 72 hours after the surgery. Blepharoplasty rarely has significant complications. However, for the first few weeks after surgery, some patients experience an altered blink, which may affect the tear film and impact vision a little. Book a consultation with our specialists Dr Sid Ogra and Dr Taras Papchenko on 0800 25 53 93

Macular Degeneration, also called age-related macular degeneration, is a common cause of vision problems in older people. It’s estimated to affect around 15% of people over 50 and 30% of those aged 75+. The condition affects the macula – the sensitive central section of the retina responsible for transmitting detail and colour images to the brain. As the macula declines over time, the central field of vision is affected, and colour vision may deteriorate. Diagnosis Optical coherence tomography (OCT) creates detailed images of the different layers of the retina. Safe and non-invasive, it can identify signs of AMD early. Fluorescein angiography helps your doctor identify wet AMD. The procedure involves injecting a dye into your arm and taking photos of the retina. This should confirm the presence of abnormal blood vessels and identify any leaks or scar tissue. Dry AMD Dry AMD is the most common form of macular degeneration. As you age, your macula may become blotchy and pigmented. The process is slow and can have little to no effect on vision. Later, dots called drusen can appear as cells in the macula die off, causing distortion, blurring or missing pieces in images. Most people retain enough vision to function in day-to-day life – although reading and fine detail work may become more difficult. Treatment There is no effective treatment for dry AMD at present, but trials are in progress – Auckland Eye is involved with some of these. Wet AMD Less common but more serious, wet AMD results from abnormal blood vessel growth on or around the macula. When these blood vessels leak or bleed, the scar tissue left behind can distort and obscure vision. Wet AMD tends to develop more quickly than dry and may lead to severe vision problems and blindness if left untreated. Wet AMD treatment options: Anti-VEGF injections The most common treatment for wet AMD is anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections, which inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in the macula. The treatment effectively prevents or slows vision loss in 90% of patients and improves vision in 60%. After numbing your eye, your ophthalmologist will inject the drug through the eye’s sclera, or outer layer. This should not be painful but may be uncomfortable. Treatment is ongoing, with injections every month for the first three months, then every three months, depending on how the eye responds. Laser treatment Although laser treatment for AMD has been less common since the introduction of anti-VEGF medication, it is still occasionally used. Your ophthalmologist may recommend laser treatment if your AMD doesn’t respond well to the anti-VEGF treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves injecting a special light-sensitive fluid into the arm and using a laser to activate it in the eye and help close off the abnormal blood vessels causing wet AMD. Laser photocoagulation involves directing a specialised laser at the blood vessels around the macula. As with PDT, the laser blocks the abnormal vessels, which naturally die off. Book a consultation for macular degeneration on 0800 255 393.