Victor Luca

The eye is a complex organ and is our primary window to the world. As such, the eye merits special attention.

Optometrists are the primary health care providers for the eyes and vision system. Optometry focuses on things like vision care and corrective lenses.

Ophthalmology is one of about 41 medical specialties that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. In NZ ophthalmology is over 30 percent privatised.

Comes a time in the lives of many us when things start to go wrong with the eye and this can have significant impacts on our quality of life.

In town we have essentially two optometrists, Specsavers and Visique, but we have no ophthalmology service.

When major structural problems occur with your eyes that require a surgical approach, folk need to travel to the Tauranga Eye Specialists on 25 Park Street, about one hour away. I am told that a new eye clinic has recently opened in Papamoa, which is slightly closer. All cataract surgery is performed at one of these two places.

A lot of folk seem to be confused about the demarcation between optometry and ophthalmology and I often get asked why it is that travel to Tauranga is necessary? Why can’t we have a service in Whakatāne?

Ian Finch owns the Visique practice in Whakatāne and used to be one of our elected members on the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, which no longer exists.

Ian will be the presenter at the forthcoming Grey Power General meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 19, starting at 10am. The venue is the Knox Presbyterian church hall on Domain Road.

All are welcome to come along to get an insight eye care and how things work in the areas of optometry and ophthalmology in our region.