Southern Eye Specialists are the South Island's foremost eye specialists providing expert diagnosis and treatment of all eye conditions, like glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, from our cutting-edge facility in central Christchurch.
Established in 1992 by two visionary Christchurch ophthalmologists, Southern Eye Specialists has grown over the years to where we can now provide unparalleled knowledge and expertise thanks to a passionate team of ophthalmologists, nurses and administrative professionals.

With innovative processes, advanced modern technology and expert medical procedures this specialist team is united in their care of patients.

We understand that having an eye condition can often be quite worrying. So we do everything in our power to ensure patients are at all times clearly informed and guided within a warm and supportive environment.

We are always focused on delivering excellent guidance, exemplary care and exceptional results. We are proud to deliver clarity of vision and quality of life.

Team

Specialists

Our highly skilled eye specialists have extensive training and valuable experience in both the dedicated field of eye care and their specific sub-specialities. All ophthalmologists at Southern Eye Specialists are medical graduates who have a ‘Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists’. They have also had overseas fellowships in a wide variety of disciplines, including glaucoma, vitreo-retinal surgery, medical retina including diabetic eye care, strabismus, neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery.

Dr James Borthwick

MB ChB, FRANZCO

Disease and surgery of the retina and macula, cataract

Dr Sean Every

MB ChB, MMedSci (Distinction), FRANZCO

Disease and surgery of the retina and macula, cataract

Dr Jo-Anne Pon

MB ChB, FRANZCO

Oculoplastics, cataract, neuro-ophthalmology, strabismus, general ophthalmology

Dr John Rawstron

MB ChB, MPH, GDipM (Refract Surg), FRANZCO

Cataract, LASIK, corneal transplant

Dr Rebecca Stack

MB ChB (Distinction), MMedSci, FRANZCO

Cataract, oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon

Dr Rahul Dwivedi

BSc (Hons), MB ChB, FRCOphth, FRANZCO

Consultant ophthalmologist – glaucoma & cataract specialist

Dr Logan Robinson

MB Chb, PG Dip Ophth BS (Distinction), FRANZCO

Vitreoretinal surgery, diseases of the retina and macula, refractive cataract surgery

Dr Robert Weatherhead

MB ChB, FRCS, FRACS, FRANZCO

Oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon

Dr Genevieve Oliver

BHB, MB ChB, MOphth, PhD, FRANZCO

Specialist – diseases & surgery of the retina, vitreous & macula specialist cataract surgeon

Dr Elizabeth Conner

MBChB, BMedSci, FRANZCO

Paediatric ophthalmologist, anterior segment, cataract surgeon

Dr Dickson Wong

MBChB, FRANZCO

Glaucoma, oculoplastics, cataract surgeon

Service Providers

Lora Parsons

Orthoptist

Staff

The exceptional team of registered nurses and support staff at Southern Eye Specialists are hugely important to the care our patients receive. Our nursing staff all have specific eyecare training and are highly experienced in assisting with a wide range of procedures. This work is backed by an administrative and support team that are friendly, efficient and always willing to go the extra mile for our patients.

Management

Simon Templeton

General Manager

Justin Robinson

Chief Financial Officer

Marie Taylor

Operations Manager / Clinical Research Coordinator

Nursing Team

Penny

Clinical Team Leader

Kristine

Registered Nurse

Janette

Registered Nurse

Jimari

Registered Nurse

Leah

Registered Nurse

Haley

Ophthalmic Technician

Bridget

Registered Nurse

Cailee

Ophthalmic Technician

Vlasta

Ophthalmic Technician

Sarah

Registered Nurse

Tamzin

Ophthalmic Technician

Aatisha

Ophthalmic Technician

Angelique

Ophthalmic Technician

Eamonn

Ophthalmic Technician

Jo

Ophthalmic Technician

Ruby

Ophthalmic Technician

Victor

Ophthalmic Technician

Michele

Registered Nurse

BLENHEIM

PA & Admin Team

Eloise

Administration Team Leader

Stephanie

Office & Finance Administrator

Ann

Medical Transcriptionist

Heather

Medical Transcriptionist Team Leader

Amber

Medical Transcriptionist

Lucy

Referrals Coordinator

Sally

West Coast Coordinator

Holly

Operating Theatre Bookings Coordinator

Alexis

Personal Assistant

Tracey

Personal Assistant

Catherine

Personal Assistant

Lei-Anne

Finance Administration

Jade

Personal Assistant

Deborah

Personal Assistant

Deborah

Personal Assistant

Megan

Personal Assistant
BLENHEIM

Teri

Personal Assistant

Amy

Personal Assistant

Ella

Personal Assistant

Sharyn

Receptionist

Monica

Receptionist

Roland

Administration Support

Values

Our staff take the values here seriously. While we always adhere to industry- wide codes of conduct and general professional responsibilities, these unique values also uphold and enhance the unique culture of this place and ensure the care for our people and our patients is at the highest of standards.

Safety

We take responsibility

The most important thing is that patients are safe in our care, we are safe in our work, and everyone feels safe to speak up if standards aren’t met.
At an individual and group level everyone here takes responsibility for patient care and staff wellbeing. Every team member is accountable for ensuring a safe workplace. So, if something’s not right, we speak up.

Respect

We uphold dignity

Everyone must be valued and supported. We look up to each other – and we look out for each other. United as a team in our work, we share empathy and compassion, loyalty and trust. So too do we always recognise and respect difference. It can be difficult to understand a perspective that’s not your own. But we are stronger due to this diversity. We thrive together.

Integrity

We do what’s right

We can only continue in our work thanks to the strength of our character and the quality of our reputation. That’s why every step is taken with the utmost integrity. We must always be respectful of the individual needs of each patient. We must always remain aware of the responsibilities we have to our patients, our communities and the wider environment.

Initiative

We make it happen

We value a sense of collaboration, innovation and enthusiasm within our people. It starts with having pride in your work, in thinking positively, in being open to challenges. It continues with the amicable sharing of ideas and effective feedback. It endures thanks to a positive one-for-all, all-for-one mindset. Someone needs help? Something needs doing? Roll up the sleeves and get stuck in.

Ambition

We stay curious

We are ambitious in improving the quality of our care and the expertise of our people. By embracing lifelong learning we will bolster and grow our knowledge base. By leaning into change and continuously looking to make incremental improvement we will encourage fresh ideas and innovative approaches to patient care. In both small steps and bold leaps we will learn more and travel further.

History

From small beginnings in 1992 to our current modern premises, Southern Eye Specialists has grown in size and scope as more doctors and improved technology have been introduced to the practice.

Southern Eye Specialists was founded by Dr Ken Tarr and Dr Jim Borthwick in 1992. Their early days were spent in small offices, with the only staff being two secretaries. However, the move to Hyatt Chambers saw the space increase and the practice grow.

Since then much has changed. Technology has increasingly driven the advancement in care in recent decades. Only by reaching an appropriate size can a modern ophthalmology practice work with the best tools available. Growing the team ensured we could make the considerable investment in new equipment and, as a result, offer the full reach of testing and diagnostic services to consistently deliver high-quality care.

More doctors and new technology demanded greater space. Having outgrown the Hyatt Chambers offices (and with earthquake and weather tightness issues arising) moving into new premises in 2016 was vital to our continued success.

Carefully designed to be entirely fit for purpose, the building has lofty interior spaces, a comfortable reception area and plenty of on-site car parking. It also has the required capacity to house both the team and all necessary state-of-the-art equipment.

All ophthalmologic subspecialties are now covered by the span of knowledge and expertise within the team. SES doctors have all worked in the public sector in clinics and hospitals both in Christchurch and around the world. Their wealth of experience ensures the highest standard of expertise and care. They are supported by a highly skilled nursing group and a dedicated administrative team.

While Dr Ken Tarr retired from the practice in 2015, his legacy provides a close-knit and supportive working environment. The team’s collaborative approach means even the most complex or rare eye conditions can be assessed and effectively managed.

Since 1992, our team has forged strong professional relationships throughout the local community, national landscape and global network. We have over 40 staff, including 11 ophthalmologists, and have helped hundreds of thousands of patients. We now look forward to a future in which our expertise and empathy in care will continue to provide clarity of vision and quality of life.

Partners

The professional support provided by our industry partners is incredibly valuable to our work.

Sponsorship

We are proud to support a variety of causes throughout Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand.