Dr Peter Ring
Laser Vision Correction, Cataract and Oculoplastic Surgeon
Dr Peter Ring
Laser Vision Correction, Cataract & Oculoplastic Surgeon
Dr Ring shares his many years of international experience that led to starting Eye Institute
Discover more about this New Zealand eye expert below
Positions held:
- Former President Ophthalmological Society of New Zealand
- Examiner for the Royal Australian & NZ College of Ophthalmologists, 1994-2005
- Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology – University of Auckland
- Vision Correction Specialist & Director – Eye Institute
With four decades at the forefront of eye surgery in New Zealand, Dr Ring was an early exponent of modern multi-focal technology. He was also part of the esteemed small team that introduced laser surgery to the country.
His vast knowledge and reputation as an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery have led him to become an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology at the School of Medicine.
As eye surgery technology has evolved over the years, Dr Ring‘s practice has grown and developed with it. His interest in the latest research and techniques enables him to offer the most recent international advancements in laser surgery to his patients.
Dr Ring was one of the founders of Eye Institute in 1995 with Drs Bruce Hadden and the late Tony Morris.
Training and Principal Qualifications:
- MB ChB (Otago)
- FRCS Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England
- FRCOphth Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, England
- FRANZCO Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- DO (Lond) Diploma of Ophthalmology, London
Dr Ring carried out his postgraduate training in Ophthalmology in London at the prestigious institutions of Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital and Moorfield’s Eye Hospital.
Dr Ring’s specialisations:
Cataract & refractive lens surgery
Cataract surgery is a transformative experience and is also one of the safest surgical procedures performed today. Dr Ring’s passion is to restore sight to those who have been afflicted by cataracts. Dr Ring prioritises safety, high patient care and achieving excellent results for each of his cataract patients above all else.
His cataract surgery approach includes:
- Subconjunctival anaesthesia (so there is no pain, no movement, and nothing seen)
- No sutures (“key-hole” small incision surgery)
- No worries – sedation provided by a specialist anaesthetist, if you desire
For patients with significant astigmatism (oval-shaped cornea), we can select a toric implant to maximise distance vision without glasses.
Refractive lens surgery (clear lens extraction)
By removing the clear lens from the eye and replacing it with an implant, refractive lens surgery can give unaided near, middle distance and far distance vision without spectacles. These lenses are known as multifocal lenses.
Dr Ring started using the ReStor multifocal lenses in 2004 and changed to the FineVision brand six years ago, giving better intermediate-range vision. Toric versions are also available to give even better visual results.
Dr Ring also uses the Vivity lens which gives less haloes, slightly longer intermediate vision but less near vision.
Oculoplastic surgery
Dr Ring specialises in oculoplastic surgery, which is the removal of skin tumours of the eyelid, repositioning both upper and lower eyelids, and managing watery eyes through eyelid or tear duct surgery.
Pterygiums are vascular scars at the inner corner of the eye that cause irritation. They can grow across the cornea to affect the vision. Nowadays, the surgical results are excellent.
Extra skin in the upper lids gives rise to heaviness and tiredness and may interfere with the patient’s field of vision. Dr Ring can remedy this by removing tissue from the upper lid – a technique known as blepharoplasty.
Laser eye surgery
Dr Ring brought Laser Eye Surgery to New Zealand in 1992 with his original partners.
Laser eye surgery, or laser vision correction, involves using a laser to change the shape of the surface of the eye, the cornea. By altering the shape of the cornea, laser eye surgery can remove any focusing error resulting in independence from glasses.
It corrects shortsightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism. Three techniques are available, PRK, LASIK and SMILE, all of which have their place.
Dr Ring has worked with a charity organisation (Lifeline Express) which operates out of Hong Kong. They send groups of overseas ophthalmologists to various centres throughout China for three days. Each doctor is usually accompanied by another ophthalmologist from another country who is interested in another speciality and an interpreter. Time is spent lecturing on requested topics, running an outpatient clinic and supervising in the operating theatre.
- 2016 Luohe in Henan Province
- 2017 Baise in Guangxi Province
- 2018 Baise in Guangxi Province
- 2019 Lecturing at an ocular infection conference in Beijing
- 2019 Ulanhot Inner Mongolia
- 2020 Cancelled due to Covid
Dr Ring is married to Alison. They met when she was a ward sister at Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he was training. Together they have two grown children, Charlotte and David, and two young granddaughters.
Apart from his family, Dr Ring’s other passions vary from rugby, tennis and Formula One racing to cooking, reading and relaxing at the beach. He has also clocked up more than one hundred hours flying with a PPL license and is a Designated Medical Examiner for Civil Aviation.
Dr Ring also holds the sporting distinctions of an Otago University Blue and a New Zealand University Blue in fencing.
Dr Ring has been involved in the teaching of ophthalmic registrars and optometry students at various stages of his career.
For many years, he has run mock exams for young ophthalmologists about to sit their final fellowship exams.
Membership to Professional Societies:
- Fellowship of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO) – Member
- New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Blindness – Member
- Ophthalmological Society of New Zealand – Member
- Asian Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology – Original Council Member
- International Society of Refractive Surgeons – Member
- New Zealand Society of Contact Lens Practitioners – Member
- Asian Pacific Intraocular Implant Association – Foundation Member
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons – Member
- European Society of Ocular & Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons – Member
Discover if you could be free from glasses and contacts
Everyone deserves a life free from glasses and contacts, but not everyone is suitable. The best way to find out if vision correction is right for you is to book a free laser assessment. You’ll get a clear and honest answer on your suitability and treatment options.
Discover if you could be free from glasses and contacts
Everyone deserves a life free from glasses and contacts, but not everyone is suitable. The best way to find out if vision correction is right for you is to book a free laser assessment. You’ll get a clear and honest answer on your suitability and treatment options.
