Carol Slight at work in 2016

In January this year, New Zealand ophthalmology lost one of its pioneers in ophthalmic nursing: Carol Slight, who spent more than 40 years caring for Auckland’s eye patients.

Carol began her nursing career in 1977 as a staff nurse on the ophthalmic ward in the old Wallace Block at Auckland Hospital, before moving on to work at the Greenlane eye clinic, where she held various roles, including charge nurse. She undertook post-graduate studies to become an ophthalmic clinical nurse specialist in 2003, followed by a master’s degree, becoming New Zealand’s first nurse practitioner in ophthalmology in 2007.

Carol was a leader, an educator, a pioneer and an inspiration to many in Auckland and across New Zealand. As well as her clinical roles, Carol held a lead role in quality improvement in ophthalmology, with patient care always her primary motivation. She could always be relied upon to give a variety of talks to nurses working in the clinic as well as at national conferences, especially when it came to her twin ophthalmic passions of glaucoma and uveitis.

Carol would always attempt to find a solution to any issue and had an eagle eye when it came to noticing important details – so apparent with her focus on quality. She helped lead the development of senior nursing roles in the eye department at Greenlane and mentored many of the current senior nursing team (including myself), helping them to recognise and reach their potential and grow as professionals.

She was also involved with many projects at a national level, including being treasurer of Nurse Practitioners New Zealand, a representative for nurse practitioners during the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Amendment Bill process in 2018 and as one of the formative members of the implementation of the cataract prioritisation system. She was recognised for her dedication to ophthalmic nurse education in 2018 when she won the Pat Butcher Life-Long Learning Award.

Carol with her Pat Butcher award in 2018

We are deeply saddened with the loss of our dear colleague, mentor and wonderful friend. Besides multiple interests, Carol’s four main loves were her Christian faith, her marriage, her family and her work in ophthalmology. She passed away peacefully on the 19 January at Mercy Hospice, aged 63, surrounded by her loved ones, and is survived by her husband Nigel, their three children and six grandchildren.

Carol, we will long remember your legacy and dedication to the ophthalmology service and to the patients you treated and cared for over the years. You are very much missed. May you rest in peace.

David Garland, nurse practitioner, Te Toka Tumai