Philanthropy at Re:Vision

Re:Vision is closely aligned with ARCH to provide free cataract surgery for those denied access to timely care in the public healthcare system anywhere in the North Island.  We realize there are many patients who don’t qualify for publicly funded cataract surgery but have a need to correct their visual disability and get back to work, to their caregiver role, or to other activities as quickly as possible.  Re:Vision’s surgeons are proud to be able to help our community in this way.

PROCESS:
Optometrists and GPs apply directly to ARCH on their patient’s behalf.  ARCH then assesses if the patient qualifies for free surgery that is funded by Re:Vision.  Re:Vision’s  surgeons provide their skills free of charge and the patients receive exactly the same high standard of care as any private patient would.

Patients receiving free cataract surgery via ARCH are unable to choose their surgeon (like the Public hospital service).

Many cataract patients have had one eye operated on in public, but are denied publicly-funded cataract surgery to their other eye. A prolonged wait for the second eye, is often dangerous due to imbalanced vision causing difficulty with things like driving.

Re:Vision recognises this significant problem. To help these patients denied second eye cataract surgery in Public, and can’t afford Private, Dr Trevor Gray and Dr Mo Ziaei offer these patients a significantly reduced cost (lowest cataract surgery price in Auckland). Patients are able to choose their surgeon with Re:Vision’s ‘Community Care Package’.

There are members of our community that struggle with glasses or contact lenses due to disabilities like tetraplegia.  Dr Gray has provided free laser vision correction surgery for several years to patients who have limited or no use of their upper & lower limbs.   This safe procedure massively changes their lives by returning an important form of independence so they can see clearly without needing for someone else to put their glasses on or off.

Within the School of Medicine at the University of Auckland is a team (Ocular Therapeutics Unit) dedicated to research in the latest medicines and treatments for a wide variety of eye conditions. This Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit was started and funded by Drs Trevor & Caroline Gray’s personal ‘Buchanan Charitable Foundation’.

Dr Gray is an Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine and regularly presents to medical and optometry students on his areas of expertise. Re:Vision continues to provide clinical experience to final year optometry students and visiting ophthalmology trainees most weeks.   Re:Vision provides free training seminars and conferences to optometrists and free on-line training resources to support their continuing medical education needs.   In addition to their eye-care related philanthropy, Drs Trevor and Caroline Gray support secondary and tertiary students through their Buchanan Charitable Foundation in a variety of ways.