Dr Nick Mantell
Laser Vision Correction, ICL, Refractive Cataract and Lens Exchange, Retinal Surgeon
Dr Nick Mantell
Laser Vision Correction,ICL, Refractive Cataract & Lens Exchange, Retinal Surgeon
Dr Mantell reflects over his 20 years of experience improving vision for thousands of patients
Discover more about this New Zealand eye expert below
A specialist in cataract and refractive laser surgery, Dr Mantell has restored the vision of many thousands of patients during his 20-year career in private practice. He feels that Ophthalmologists are privileged to be trusted by our patients to restore their vision. This is a responsibility he takes very seriously.
Dr Mantell grew up in a medical family. His father was a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He was the first Professor of Māori and Pacific Island Health. Dr Mantell felt he was destined to become a doctor. Very early on at Medical School, he became interested in Ophthalmology.
“I think the immediate nature of restoring someone’s vision and the incredible technology used to do this really appealed to me. I also think that to know a lot about a very small part of the body that others didn’t really know about also appealed to me.” – Dr Mantell
After training in Auckland and Wellington, Dr Mantell headed overseas for three years to further his subspecialty training.
Over the 20 years since returning to Waikato, Dr Mantell has pursued his interest in refractive surgery.
Training and principal qualifications:
- MBCHB 1991
- Ophthalmology training Auckland
- Fellowship – (Vitreoretinal Surgical) Royal Manchester Eye Hospital, UK
- Fellowship – (Vitreoretinal Surgical) Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne
- Fellowship – (Cataract and Primary Care) Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
- Diploma in Refractive Surgery – Sydney University
LASIK certified surgeon positions held:
- Vision Correction Specialist & Director – Eye Institute
- Former Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology – University of Auckland Associations & memberships:
- Fellow – Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists
- Member – American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS)
- Member – Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS)
- Member – American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Member – New Zealand Medical Council
Dr Mantell has worked in various roles in private and public sector health care. He worked as an Ophthalmology Surgeon at Green Lane Hospital for three years and trained House Surgeons, Registrars, and Fellows at Green Lane Hospital. As each patient is unique, Dr Mantell believes in providing a personalised approach and always doing the best for all his patients. Each procedure, of which there are many possibilities, is customised to fit your individual needs. Dr Mantell’s patients receive the benefits of the latest surgical techniques and careful attention and support from his team before and after the operation. As a result, they experience a procedure that is painless and stress-free. Nick is also a recognised provider for all major health insurance companies, meaning patients can experience hassle-free claims. His team can organise prior approval for their surgery.
Dr Mantell’s specialisations:
Laser vision correction (Lasik, SMILE, PRK)
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. It corrects short-sightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism.
Refractive cataract surgery
- No needle anaesthesia (safe for patients on aspirin and warfarin)
- No pain (numbing anaesthetic gel)
- 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
- A procedure that replaces the natural lens of the eye with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) and can correct near-sightedness, longsightedness and astigmatism – ICL – implantable contact lens surgery
Bioptics
Bioptics involves using a combination of surgical vision correction techniques in which the refractive error of the eye is treated on both the lenticular and corneal optical planes.
Dr Mantell completed his basic medical training at Auckland Medical School in 1991, obtaining BHB and MBCHB qualifications. He then carried out his Ophthalmology speciality training in the Auckland and Waikato Eye departments. He was admitted as a fellow of RANZCO 1999 and spent three years completing further postgraduate subspecialty training in the UK and Australia.
Since returning to Auckland, he has continued with his interest in Refractive laser surgery, completing a Diploma in Refractive Surgery from Sydney University. As with all medical specialists’ education is an ongoing process. Dr Mantell regularly attends Ophthalmology conferences to help maintain and update his knowledge and skills.
People would be surprised to know that their surgeon was a former front-rower for Auckland and Waikato Provincial Rugby – his ultimate moment winning the Ranfurly Shield with Waikato.
Dr Mantell is the longest-serving trustee for the Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand. The New Zealand branch is responsible for the South Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea. The foundations’ aim is to prevent avoidable blindness. One of the key objectives is to train local doctors to carry out sight-saving surgeries. Dr Mantell and co have built teaching clinics in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to enable this. We are training comprehensive Ophthalmologists to perform cataract surgery and treat other eye conditions, including diabetes and glaucoma. It has been fantastic to see the organisation evolve into a truly sustainable pacific centred organisation over the last eight years
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.
