Dr Shira Sheen

Cataract and Anterior Segment Surgeon

Dr Shira Sheen

Cataract and Anterior Segment Surgeon

“I envision better sight for the people of Hawke’s Bay”

– Dr Shira Sheen

Dr Shira Sheen’s professional background

Discover more about this New Zealand eye expert below

Experience and education

After graduating from medical school in 2007, Shira completed Ophthalmology training in Israel, under the supervision of world known Ophthalmologist, Professor Ehud Assia.

She undertook sub-specialty Clinical Fellow in complex cataract and refractive surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide, Australia under the guidance of Professor Michael Goggin. It was here that she gained a vast amount of surgical experience with premium intraocular lenses and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals.

  • MD with excellence (Semmelweis University)
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology
  • Clinical Fellowship in Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Adelaide South Australia

Cataract

  • The use of small, sutureless incision techniques to result in shorter recovery periods
  • Specialised lens implants for the correction of spectacle prescriptions, including astigmatism, during treatment of cataracts to allow increased independence from glasses post-surgically
  • Options to further reduce spectacle dependency for distance as well as reading vision with the use of premium lens implants including multifocal and extended depth of focus lens implants, or a blended vision approach
  • Specialist in complicated and complex cataract surgeries (small pupil, pseudoexfoliation, etc)
  • No sutures (“key-hole” small incision surgery)
  • No eye patch (useful vision through a clear protective shield returns in minutes)
  • No worries – sedation provided by a specialist anaesthetist, if you desire

Refractive lens exchange

  • Refractive lens exchange procedure that replaces the natural lens of the eye with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) and can correct near-sightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism

Ocular surface procedures: 

  • Pterygium removal surgery with use of fibrin glue to result in a suture-free procedure and an excellent cosmetic outcome
  • Removal and treatment of recurrent pterygia with use of antimetabolites to significantly reduce risk of further recurrence

Ocular trauma

  • Urgent eye care and treatment of trauma to the eye
  • Treatment of lacerations and injuries of the cornea

Shira loves spending time with her three children. They enjoy exploring New Zealand and seeing as much of the country as they can in their spare time. She also loves upcycling old furniture.

Published

  1. Sheen-Ophir S, Reitblat O, Levy A, Assia EI, Kleinmann G. Deviation from the planned axis of three toric intraocular lenses. Sci Rep. 2022 Aug 12;12(1):13760
  2. Ravichandran S, Ramachandran N, Sheen-Ophir S, Fraser EA. The re-emergence of a transmittable cause of blindness: a catch. N Z Med J. 2022 Jan 21
  3. S Sheen-Ophir, J Wong, E Assia. Outcomes of first 50 cases using a novel Pupil Expander. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, February 09, 2021
  4. Sella, S., Rubowitz, A., Sheen-Ophir, S., Ferencz, J. R., Assia, E. I., & Ton, Y. (2021). Pars plana vitrectomy for posteriorly dislocated intraocular lenses: risk factors and surgical approach. International ophthalmology, 41(1), 221-229.
  5. Ophir SS, LaHood B, Goggin M. Refractive outcome of toric intraocular lens calculation in cases of oblique anterior corneal astigmatism. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. 2020 May 1;46(5):688-93.
  6. Friehmann A, Sharon T, Ophir SS, Assia EI. Fracture of a polyimide–elastimide posterior chamber intraocular lens following blunt orbital trauma. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2019:1120672119838125.
  7. Shira Sheen-Ophir, Alexander Rubowitz. Pilot Study of Feasibility of Using Experimental High Viscosity Silicone Oils. Internat J Retina Vitreous, 2018;4.1:3; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40942 017 0105 8
  8. Sheen-Ophir S., Friehmann A, Rubowitz A. Circumferential silicone sponge scleral buckling induced axial length changes: case series and comparison to literature. International Journal of Retina and Vitreous, 2017;3:1
  9. Sheen-Ophir S, Gepstein R, Assia EI. Intralenticular Ozurdex Implant: A Case Report. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1556.
  10. Geffen N, Mimouni M, Sherwood M, Assia EI. (2016). Mid-term Clinical Results of CO2 Laser-assisted Sclerectomy Surgery (CLASS) for Open-Angle Glaucoma Treatment. Journal of Glaucoma, 2016;25(12):946-951 – Member of the Study group
  11. Sheen-Ophir S, Almog Y. Diplopia following subcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin for cosmetic or medical use. Harefuah, 2013;152(2):98-100, 123, 122

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons