Auckland Chosen as 3D Cataract Surgery Training Centre

A $10 million dollar investment in a state-of-the-art surgical facility has seen a group of eye specialists selected as an international training centre for eye doctors.

 

Auckland Eye has been chosen as the training hub for a revolutionary piece of technology called LensAR which uses 3D technology to map the eyes of patients during laser cataract surgery.

A cataract is a cloudiness in the natural lens of the eye which develops as part of the ageing process. This cloudiness reduces the vision by limiting and scattering the light passing through the eye.

Normal cataract surgery, performed under the operating microscope, requires great dexterity on the part of the surgeon but with LensAR laser cataract surgery even greater precision can be achieved. The scanner in the LensAR laser generates a 3D model of the individual patient's eye and uses that model to create extremely precise incisions on the surface of the eye and in the lens.

According to Dr Yvonne Ng another benefit of the LensAR is it's soft interface with the patient's eye which allows the Auckland Eye doctors to treat patients who may not be able to be treated with other laser cataract machines.

She says several factors contributed to Auckland Eye being selected as the international training centre for this surgery.

"We are very proud to be able to offer training to international experts here. We have the most sophisticated eye surgical theatres in Australisia and, with 13 specialists, we are also the largest ophthalmology group in Australasia to consult and attend surgery on one site", she says.

In addition Auckland Eye is the only practice and surgical centre in Auckland to be accreditated with EQuIP accreditation and this commitment to quality was a key factor in the decision make it the Centre of Excellence.