Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions and vision disorders.
At Kāpiti Day Hospital, ophthalmology services focus on the assessment and treatment of conditions affecting the eye, including cataracts. Modern ophthalmic procedures are typically performed as day surgery, allowing patients to return home the same day. Many procedures are carried out using advanced microsurgical techniques designed to improve vision while minimising recovery time.
MB ChB (Otago) FRANZCO
Cataract and Vitreoretinal Surgeon.
Steve trained in Dunedin (both medicine and ophthalmology) before cataract and retina fellowships in the UK. He specialises in cataract and refractive lens surgery, vitrectomy surgery and intravitreal treatments, as well as pterygium surgery. Steve consults from Thorndon Eye Clinic, Boulcott Clinic and Kapiti Specialist Centre.
Steve is a Southern Cross and NIB Affiliated provider.
MD 2008 Virginia; Am Bd Cert Ophth 2014
Dr Brenda Breidenstein has been practising in Wellington since 2014.
She emigrated to New Zealand in 2013 to complete a fellowship in paediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at the University of Auckland. After fellowship she and her husband Landon decided they wanted to make NZ their permanent home and settled in Wellington. Brenda practices comprehensive ophthalmology for patients of all ages as well as being a specialist Paediatric Ophthalmologist. Her ophthalmology training was completed in the United States at University of California San Diego (paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship) and University of South Florida (comprehensive ophthalmology registrar training). She obtained her doctorate in medicine at University of Virginia in 2008 and Bachelor of Science in psychology at University of Florida in 2004.
BMedSci MBChB(Otago) MHSM FRANZCO AFRACMA
Special Clinical Interest(s):
Dr John Ah-Chan trained in New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin) with additional fellowship experience in Comprehensive Ophthalmology (Exeter, UK), Glaucoma (Dunedin, NZ), and Medical Retina (Oxford, UK). He was the Ophthalmology Teaching Fellow at Otago University, Department of Ophthalmology from 1999-2000. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) and since 2015, a VTP Clinical tutor.
John is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Midcentral Health, Te Whatu Ora (since 2007, including the role of HOD from 2014-2020) and in private practice with Eye Associates (consulting at Crest Specialist Centre, Palmerston North and Horowhenua Vision Centre, Levin; and operating at Crest Hospital, Palmerston North and Kapiti Day Hospital, Paraparaumu).
John is a Southern Cross and NIB Affiliated provider.
MBChB, CertHSc, PGDipOphthBS (Distinction), GradDipRefCatSurg (High Distinction), FRANZCO, MInstD
Alistair is a New Zealand-trained ophthalmologist with advanced fellowship training in cornea, oculoplastics, and glaucoma. He holds postgraduate expertise in refractive cataract and laser surgery from the University of Sydney, graduating with High Distinction. As National Co-Lead for the Eye Health National Clinical Network at Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand, Alistair focuses on delivering patient-centred, high-quality care that prioritises clinical excellence and patient well-being.
Alistair specialises in cataract, refractive, glaucoma, oculoplastics, corneal disease, and general ophthalmology, ensuring each patient receives tailored, high-quality care.
MSc MBChB FRANZCO
Kenneth consults from Thorndon Eye Clinic and Boulcott Clinic and is also a consultant at Wellington Hospital. He has completed a fellowship in oculoplastic and orbital surgery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom as well as a clinical observership in oculoplastic surgery and aesthetic medicine at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida. Kenneth is able to conduct his consultations in Cantonese and Mandarin if required.
Kenneth is a Southern Cross and NIB Affiliated provider.
MB ChB, FRANZCO
Special Clinical Interest(s):
Neil trained in Wellington, with additional training overseas in England, Philadelphia and Australia, and has been in private and public practice in Wellington since 1995.
Neil is a current member of the Education Committee RANZCO, and he was the Ex Clinical Leader Wellington Eye Dept, ex-member Surgeon’s Committee Southern Cross Hospital Wellington, and ex-member Specialist Committee NZ Medical Association. Current member of Education Committee RANZCO.
BChB, MMed (Refractive Surgery), FRANZCO
Special interests:
Mico-incision Cataract Surgery, Refractive surgery including LASIK and SMILE, Pterygium surgery and Cornea transplant surgery.
Mr Reece Hall is a cataract and cornea transplant surgeon with over 20 years experience in cataract surgery and over 15 years experience in Laser Eye Surgery. Mr Reece Hall graduated from Otago University and completed specialist ophthalmology training in Wellington. He completed two years of overseas fellowship training in cataract , refractive and cornea surgery with Professor Graham Barrett in Perth and cornea and refractive surgery with Professor Donald Tan in Singapore and holds a postgraduate Masters degree in refractive surgery (University of Sydney). You are in safe hands with Mr Reece Hall.
Mr Reece Hall is a fellow of the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and a member of both the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
He is a Southern Cross Affiliated provider.
Outside of work Reece enjoys spending time with his family, travelling and fishing.
BSc MBChB FRANZCO
After growing up in Wellington, Neil attended the University of Otago for undergraduate medical training. While on elective in Jamaica he developed an interest in ophthalmology. Neil completed his internship and general ophthalmology training at Wellington and Dunedin hospitals, followed by two years of fellowship training in retinal diseases and vitreoretinal surgery. Neil continues to make regular trips to Jamaica to help provide outpatient ophthalmic services and perform small incision cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
Neil is a Southern Cross and NIB Affiliated provider.
