Dr Peter Hadden

Retinal and Cataract Surgeon

Dr Peter Hadden

Retinal & Cataract Surgeon

“I think that one of the best things about ophthalmology is that people can walk in with an eye problem and walk out with it fixed.”

– Dr Peter Hadden, MBChB

Dr Peter Hadden’s professional background

Discover more about this New Zealand eye expert below

Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of Intraocular tumours. He has been at Eye Institute for 19 years. Dr Hadden is the Chair of the NZ Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and has taken up an invitation to be part of the Health Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal. He is also a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland. During his training, he won the premier prize of the Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine and the Cedric Cohen Medal for coming first across Australia and New Zealand in the RANZCO Part I examination.

Training and principal qualifications:
  • MBChB 1994
  • Ophthalmology registrar training Christchurch and Dunedin
  • Fellowships at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, USA, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Lions Eye Institute, Perth, Australia, Royal
  • Liverpool University Hospital, England and Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland
Positions held:
  • Eye Surgeon & Director – Eye Institute
  • Eye Surgeon, Auckland District Health Board
  • Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology – University of Auckland
  • Chair, NZ Branch Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists
  • Member, NZ Health Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal
  • RACE Examiner, Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists

Dr Hadden believes that each patient is unique and that, with advancing technology, more and more people will have their sight restored. Dr Hadden is also involved in training future ophthalmologists at Greenlane Clinical Centre and through his roles with the College. His competence and thoughtful approach have resulted in him being elected by his colleagues to the prominent positions he now holds. He has travelled to Fiji and Samoa for 15 years to help ophthalmologists provide better care for their patients. Dr Hadden is 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 Hadden’s specialisations:

Refractive cataract surgery

  • No needle anaesthesia (safer and faster recovery)
  • 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

Vitreoretinal surgery

Vitreoretinal surgery is surgery on the structures at the back of the eye. This can range from simple procedures such as removing floaters to complex problems, including managing the eye’s tumours.

Dr Hadden loves spending time with his wife Andrea and his five children, who are now growing up and spread across the country from Auckland to Dunedin. In his spare time, he is currently undertaking a PhD looking at how penguins see.

Professional memberships
  • RANZCO
  • Oceania Retinal Association
  • Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retinal Society
  • International Society of Ocular Oncology
Treatments include
  • Vitreoretinal Surgery
  • Cataract Surgery
  • Intraocular tumour management

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.