Dr Every’s days are always busy – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I like that about my job. I get to be a private ophthalmologist, work in the public sector as a retinal surgeon and be clinical director at the public hospital’s eye department,” he says.

Sean brings this wealth of multidisciplinary expertise to Southern Eye Specialists, where his work includes medical and surgical treatment of the macula, vitreous and retina as well as routine and complex cataract surgery.

Geographically speaking, his career has been a circular journey. After initial ophthalmology training in Christchurch and Dunedin, and with registration at the College of Ophthalmologists, he then completed a Master of Medical Science with Distinction under the supervision of Professor Anthony Molteno, a pioneer of tube drainage glaucoma surgery.

Sean’s work attracted interest from the Nuffield Ophthalmology in Oxford, UK, an innovation hub. After travelling there he spent two years learning from top British surgeons.

While his initial focus was on corneal surgery, vitreoretinal surgery quickly beckoned. Sean was fascinated by the delicate balance of astute decision-making and keen surgical skill. He completed a fellowship at the Radcliffe Infirmary under the tutelage of the highly regarded Drs Paul Rosen and CK Patel.

“One thing that binds us at Southern Eye Specialists is the unwavering trust each of us has with the clinical expertise of the people here”

Around this time, he also began work at Southern Eye Specialists, where his expertise has since proven invaluable both for our team and his patients. The busy eye surgeon is aware he can only do so much, however. So, he appreciates how the collected sub-specialist expertise here can be so beneficial for his patients. 

“One thing that binds us at Southern Eye Specialists is the unwavering trust each of us has with the clinical expertise of the people here,” he says. “I absolutely rate the expertise of my colleagues. I know any patient I might refer will be getting the best care in the world.”

“We are at the forefront of our fields and the team here is responsible for leading change in many ways – which is an important and amazing responsibility to have.”

His obvious enthusiasm for the big picture and microscopic details of the work is unwavering. When asked what the best part of being a retinal surgeon is he carefully considers his answer.

“My job requires an interface of intellect and dexterity,” he says. “There are many ways to use intellect, but to use it with dexterity too , well… being a microsurgeon is as good as it gets.”

Sean’s experience at the micro-level of medicine has also provided him with a macro-level perspective.

“Sight is totally egalitarian,” he says. “It’s a currency we all have, and we only start to place value on it when it’s under threat. To take sight for granted is the most wonderful privilege in the world.”

He is reflective about the importance of the eye as a sensory organ, particularly in scenarios where conditions become difficult.

“As a retinal surgeon, probably dealing with diabetics is some of the more complex work that I’ll do,” he says. “If you don’t get it right, you can miss the chance to salvage something for that person. It’s high stakes.”

Working at the interface of judgement and precision, is what underscores Sean’s deep enjoyment of eye surgery.

“Coffee is much like astronomy, actually,” he says. “There’s always a series of technical steps you need to get right before you can even get close to discovering something cool.”

“When you’ve got the beans and you’re roasting them it’s much like with a telescope, where you’re always tweaking and aligning everything. It’s a painstaking process trying to get the best result.”

Sean the stargazer also sees astronomy as both a means of discovery and a source of inspiration.

“It can be wondrous to see the layers of natural systems spanning out into the cosmos… and to then think back on how there is a galaxy within the eye.”

“To see this colour and depth is so vital to who we are,” he adds, “No matter if it’s the everyday world or the wider universe – sight is the currency of our lives.”

It can be a challenge balancing the valuable time with family and hobbies with a career that demands so much. Yet he still packs in plenty. Self-described as “a mediocre but committed athlete” he has also previously completed the Coast to Coast four times and enjoys mountain biking and swimming in any spare time he can find.

Then there’s the bike – a 1960’s 2-stroke Vespa. Sean eyes light up when describing the machine and what it’s like to ride, confidently proclaiming that, when driving through the streets, “it’s impossible to be unhappy.”

It’s also his innate curiosity about the world, a quality that he believes is vital to encourage in his children.

“There’s lots of things to be unhappy with in life, but if you’re curious about the world that can keep you going in good times and bad times,” he says. “Curiosity will always drive you to re-engage and to strive and to grow. Curiosity is what keeps you relevant.”

“I have three children at the heart of my life, all girls, aged from 5 to 17. I have to be focused on making the most of my time with them because it goes so quickly.”

Indeed, the blink of an eye.