Waikato Business News November/December 2019

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26 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS November/December 2019 Laser Eye Centre marks milestone Laser Eye Centre has its sights on a bright future as it notches an impressive 25 years in Hamilton. Centrally located in Thackeray Street and featuring state-of-theart technology and procedures, Laser Eye Centre has helped thousands of patients see free from glasses and contact lenses during its time in the city. The centre specialises in Laser vision correction, including corneal inlays and lens treatments. Its team of Laser surgeons and specialists have extensive experience in helping all ages with LASIK. The Hamilton centre started when Dr Doug Cox introduced the treatment and technology to the central North Island after appreciating at an early stage how safe and reliable Laser vision correction with PRK and LASIK would be. Optometrist Anton Frank joined him in 2003, followed by Ophthalmologist Dr Michael Merriman a year later. They have since been joined by Ophthalmologist Dr Bheema Patil, and Optometrist Oliver Svadlenak. Word of mouth has been the main reason for growth. “We get a lot of word of mouth referrals. Now, children of treated parents are coming for surgery with us,” says Patil “We look at every patient individually, listen carefully and then design an individualised treatment plan with our state-of-the-art treatment options,” says Austrian and US-trained Svadlenak. “That creates great outcomes and happy patients’ recommendations are the best promotion for our clinic.” In the last 25 years the Laser Eye Centre has grown exponentially in its number of patients treated, and is now a team of two surgeons, three optometrists and more than 10 other staff. Treatment has evolved during that time. “Incremental changes in the technology have expanded the range of people that can benefit from Laser vision correction,” says Dr Merriman, who as well as refractive surgery, specialises in cataract, and glaucoma surgery, and is also a consultant specialist at Waikato Hospital. “Initially just low levels of short sightedness (myopia) could be treated, now high levels, astigmatism and long sightedness can be treated. “Advancements have occurred with technology designed to help those who need reading glasses (or progressives), which starts to have its effect on our vision in our 40s.” Dr Merriman joined the centre in 2004 when he returned from working in London having completed his ophthalmology specialist training in New Zealand in 2002. “I love the ability to use technology that is on the leading edge of medical science to transform a person’s vision,” he says. “Lots of people wear contact lenses or glasses, but more and more patients prefer the option of Laser vision correction,” says Mr Frank, who graduated in Austria. “Our patients enjoy the freedom and independence from glasses or contact lenses.” Patients get a thorough eye examination using state of the art diagnostics. Mr Svadlenak says during the consultation they make sure that all aspects and options are clearly discussed and understood, so the patients can make an informed decision about their vision correction., We want people to be at ease and comfortable We want people to that be they at ease have and comfortable the information that they have the information to know that to know that the procedure the procedure is suited is for suited them.” for them.” “We want people to be at ease and comfortable with the procedure is best suited for them,” says Dr Merriman. “By knowing what to expect during the 20 minute procedure, most people find it an easy experience, and the recovery takes just a day. This means patients will be up and walking immediately after. Most can drive within 24 hours or the next day. “The rooms are designed with patients having LASIK as a primary purpose and we aim to make the experience as smooth as possible.” It is perhaps no surprise that most of the centre staff have had the procedure done for themselves. “Some of us, as well as family and friends, are now glasses-free from having had Laser vision correction and enjoy great vision,” Mr Svadlenak says. Since the first Laser eye vision procedure was done in 1988 it has evolved, with more than 90 percent of those with vision problems being suitable for the treatment. More than 30 million people are estimated to have had Laser vision correction worldwide in the last 25 years. The specialists at Laser Eye Centre say the procedure is increasingly well known by the public and patients can have confidence in its safety and predictability. Laser vision correction has proven to be a lasting alternative to having to use glasses or contact lenses, though Dr Merriman is aware there are still fallacies about the procedure. As an example of how safe the process is, studies have shown that daily contact lens wearers have a chance of a vision-affecting infection that is higher than with LASIK. The Laser Eye Centre is the only practice in the cen-
tral North Island doing LASIK PLUS. LASIK PLUS offers a treatment to help people with symptoms of presbyopia, the main reason for people needing reading glasses on their 40s This offers a greater scope between near and far vision, as the brain is able to adjust and expand the range of focus. The Laser Eye Centre specialists attend both national and international meetings and conferences at the leading edge of refractive surgery, and the Laser equipment is kept updated to the latest technology. “I attend conferences where as many as 10,000 ophthalmologists meet to hear about worldwide advances in the field. We are confident that in Hamilton New Zealand we are providing the best procedures the world has to offer,” Dr Merriman says. “With clinic locations throughout the central North Island including Tauranga, Rotorua, Pukekohe and New Plymouth, we expect to remain the best option for refractive surgery for anyone who wants to be free of glasses and contact lenses,” he says - for the next 25 years and beyond. Proudly serving New Zealand for 25 years Call us on 0800 733 2020 or visit www.lasereyecentre.co.nz
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Waikato Business News November/December 2019

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