Reflecting on 30 years of caring for our patients

1992 – Drs Antony Morris, Peter Ring and Bruce Hadden purchased New Zealand’s first excimer laser for refractive surgery, costing around $800,000 ($1.8 million equivalent in 2025). They introduced New Zealand’s first refractive surgery laser only three years after Dr Marguerite McDonald performed the world’s first photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK).

1994 – Drs Antony Morris, Peter Ring and Bruce Hadden built the Remuera Eye Clinic Day Surgery and Laser Centre, now Eye Institute, which was the first stand-alone dedicated ophthalmic day surgery centre.

1995 – Officially opened at 125 Remuera Road by Dame Catherine Tizard, Governor-General, 24th February 1995

1999 – Remuera Eye Clinic Day Surgery and Laser Centre renamed Eye Institute to reflect leadership in ophthalmic surgery, clinical research, and a growing national sphere of influence

2000 – Prof Charles McGhee joined Eye Institute

2001 – Prof Helen Danesh-Meyer joined Eye Institute

2002 – Eye Institute’s first education event for optometrists

2003 – Drs Nick Mantell and Peter Hadden joined

2005 – Dr Adam Watson joined. Eye Institute North at Southern Cross Specialist Centre opened.

2006 – Intralase replaced mechanical microkeratome for LASIK.

2008 – Eye Institute New Lynn opened

2009 – Acquired new vitreoretinal (VR) Constellation equipment

2010 – Eye Institute South opened

2014 – Dr Shanu Subbiah joined Eye Institute

2015 – Moved to new purpose-built building at 123 Remuera Road (right next door) when 125 Remuera Road became too small for the growing practice. Dr Will Cunningham joined Eye Institute.

2016 – Dr Graham Reeves joined Eye Institute

2017 – Opened on-site day stay surgery facility in Northcote. Drs Narme Deva and Jay Meyer joined Eye Institute.

2020 – Eye Institute Hawke’s Bay opened. Eye Institute Research Unit formed. Drs Liz Insull and Kaliopy Matheos joined Eye Institute.

2021 – Eye Institute becomes the first ophthalmology practice in NZ to be Rainbow Tick Certified. Dr Peter Hadden performed the first ever cataract surgery on a Gentoo Penguin (Cardi) at Eye Institute

2022 – Drs Sophie Hill, Shira Sheen and Baswati Sahoo joined Eye Institute.

2023 – Eye Institute Wellington opened. Eye Institute Blenheim opened, establishing our first South Island facility. Drs Ammar Binsadiq, Kevin Dunne and Edward Hutchins joined Eye Institute.

2024 – The first optometrist in New Zealand approved for YAG Laser training (is this a specifically Eye Institute milestone? – suggest delete if not)

2024 – Eye Institute Dunedin opened.

2025 – Eye Institute celebrates 30 years.