Re.Vision: re-imaging eye care

May 14, 2018 Lesley Springall

Auckland ophthalmologist Dr Trevor Gray has opened Re.Vision, a new sub-specialist surgery in Mt. Wellington, Auckland offering anterior segment surgery to those who can pay and the beginnings of a sustainable model for those who fall between the public and private sector’s eye health services.

“Re.Vision is my new home. It’s always been a little bit of a background dream, but I never thought it would come to reality; I never thought I’d leave the Eye Institute,” says Dr Gray. “But life changes and you have to roll with the punches and then make the most of what comes your way.”

Dr Gray made the decision to leave Eye Institute and pursue his own dream of a dedicated anterior segment boutique practice late last year after what he describes as a parting of philosophical ways.

Joining him at Re.Vision is most of his Eye Institute team, including receptionists, ophthalmic nurses, technicians and optometrists; 13 in total, he says. Plus, the British-raised and trained cornea and anterior segment fellow Dr Mohammed Ziaei, better known as “Dr Mo,” who will be adding his work at Re.Vision to his clinical research at the University of Auckland and his consultant ophthalmologist shifts at Greenlane Clinical Centre.

“Mo was head-hunted by Charles (Professor Charles McGhee) two years ago to be Charles’ fellow and he has turned out to be one of the most skilled, naturally-gifted surgeons we have ever come across,” says Dr Gray. “He’s also affectionately known as the ‘trainer of the trainers’ because he’s done lots of special endothelial transplants at Moorfields Eye Hospital where he trained.”

Last month, the new Re.Vision practice and surgery was busy with final fit-outs before welcoming its first patient on 23 April. Re.Vision already has a few months’ worth of patient appointments, which are mainly his patients wanting follow-up care, says Dr Gray, adding how excited he is by the new venture.

“We’re just a fledgling little unit and we’re pure anterior segment, so we’re not going to be involved in looking after glaucoma, ocular plastics, macular degeneration or things like that. We’ll essentially be offering more of what people know me for – patient-centric care and going that extra mile – as that’s what my staff and I enjoy the challenge of: how can we go the extra mile for every patient encounter and every referrer encounter; how can we make life a little easier, a little bit more pleasant, a little bit more fun.”

Mirroring some of his work at Eye Institute, where his Buchanan Charitable Foundation installed a ceiling hoist and provides funding for any New Zealand-based tetraplegic patient who requires laser vision correction, Dr Gray’s new venture is also starting off with a philanthropic focus. Re.Vision will be working with the wider charitable health and ophthalmic industry to plug the ever-increasing gap between the public and the private system, he says, promising to reveal more in a few months’ time, once a key partnership has been agreed and signed-off.

“Part of Re.Vision’s philosophy is not only to be a centre of excellence for patients in our care, but to provide a philanthropic opportunity to help society in ways that haven’t been explored yet. It’s about being part of something that just feels good. Life is too short not to enjoy what you do and the nice thing about enjoying what you do is you usually do it better without having to work at it… and that’s how a fledgling unit grows.”