Accepting New Patients

See Life with
Exceptional Clarity

Specialist cataract surgery tailored to your vision goals — from standard monofocal lenses to advanced trifocal implants that can free you from glasses entirely.

New Patient Enquiry Explore Lens Options
3,000+
Surgeries Performed
10+
Years Experience
FRANZCO
Royal College Fellow
10+ Years
Experience

Meet Your Surgeon

Dr. Sid Ogra
MBChB, FRANZCO

With years of dedicated subspecialty training in ophthalmic surgery, Dr. Ogra is a fellowship-trained cataract specialist — combining technical precision with a genuinely patient-centred approach.

Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (FRANZCO)
Specialist cataract surgeon and eyelid surgeon
Advanced implantation — monofocal, EDOF and trifocal intraocular lenses
Honorary Senior Lecturer at University of Auckland
Established private practice across Auckland and Queenstown, as well as Health New Zealand appointment
"Every patient deserves a thorough, unhurried conversation about their vision — and a surgical plan built specifically around their life and goals."

Intraocular Lens Options

Choosing the Right Lens for Your Lifestyle

Modern cataract surgery replaces the clouded natural lens with a premium artificial implant. The lens type we select together can dramatically change how you see — and how much you depend on glasses.

Standard

Monofocal Lens

Single focal point · Most widely used

The most commonly implanted lens worldwide. A monofocal IOL provides sharp focus at one fixed distance — typically set for clear distance vision. It is the standard lens covered by the public hospital, offering reliable, predictable results that have been refined over decades of surgical experience.

Advantages

  • Excellent distance vision clarity
  • Covered by public hospital
  • Proven, highly reliable technology
  • Very low risk of visual side-effects

Considerations

  • Reading glasses typically still required
  • Single distance only — no range of focus
Extended Range · Premium

EDOF Lens

Extended Depth of Focus · Enhanced range

Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) lenses use diffractive or refractive technology to elongate the focal zone, providing a smooth continuum of vision from distance through to intermediate range. Engineered to minimise the halos and glare associated with older multifocal designs, EDOF lenses offer an excellent balance between visual performance and quality.

Advantages

  • Good distance & intermediate vision
  • Reduced halos and glare vs. trifocal
  • High contrast sensitivity
  • Excellent for driving and screen use

Considerations

  • Fine near tasks may still need reading glasses
  • Premium cost — self-funded
Spectacle Independence · Premium

Trifocal Lens

Near · Intermediate · Distance · Maximum freedom

Trifocal lenses offer three distinct focal points — near, intermediate and distance — giving the highest chance of complete spectacle independence after surgery. Ideal for patients with active lifestyles who wish to read, use screens and drive without ever reaching for their glasses. The latest generation designs have significantly reduced night-vision disturbance compared to earlier multifocals.

Advantages

  • Full range of vision — near, mid & distance
  • Highest spectacle independence rate
  • Read, drive and use screens glasses-free
  • Latest designs greatly reduce halos

Considerations

  • Highest premium cost — self-funded
  • Requires careful patient selection
  • Mild halos/glare initially possible

Not sure which lens is right for you? Dr. Ogra will guide you through a thorough assessment at your consultation — there is no commitment required at the enquiry stage.

Book a Customised Consultation

Why Patients Choose Us

Expertise You Can Trust at Every Step

From your first conversation through to your post-operative care, you'll experience a level of attention and expertise that goes well beyond a standard surgical episode.

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Subspecialty Expertise

Dr. Ogra focuses on premium cataract surgery — you will be provided with the latest options and surgical techniques.

Unhurried Consultations

Every appointment is allocated ample time to explore your vision goals and answer all your questions.

Compassionate Care

Patients consistently highlight Dr. Ogra's warmth, patience and ability to explain complex options clearly.

Premium Technology

Biometry, topography and optical coherence tomography for precise lens power calculation and planning.

Comprehensive Follow-Up

Structured post-operative appointments and direct access to the team if you have any concerns after surgery.

Patient Information

IOL (Intraocular Lens) Guide

Understanding your lens options is an essential part of preparing for lens replacement surgery. This guide explains each option so you and Dr. Ogra can find the right fit for your vision goals and lifestyle.

For detailed information on lens options and comparisons, please view the IOL Information Sheet.

An IOL (IntraOcular Lens) is implanted into your eye during lens replacement surgery. Your natural lens needs replacement when it becomes cloudy (cataract) but can also be removed before it clouds to enhance the focus of the eye.

What you want to see clearly without glasses will help determine your IOL choice. A standard (monofocal) IOL is single-focus, providing clarity at one specified distance. A premium IOL is multi-focus, providing clarity over a range of distances — but with trade-offs.

Standard Monofocal Options
1
Clear distance vision — both eyes

A monofocal IOL set for clear distance vision in both eyes. Excellent for driving, television and swimming. Reading glasses will be required for all near tasks.

2
Clear near vision — both eyes

A monofocal IOL set for clear near vision in both eyes. Great for reading and craft hobbies. Distance glasses will be required for all distance tasks including driving.

3
Blended Vision
Distance in one eye · intermediate/near in the other

One eye set for distance, the other for intermediate/near. Your brain adapts over time. Mild reduction in depth perception, rarely problematic. Can be simulated with a pre-op contact lens trial.

Dr. Ogra may use a J&J Eyhance IOL — a "monofocal plus" with a small extended range without visual quality loss.
Premium IOL Options
4
Distance & intermediate — minimal haloes

Johnson & Johnson PureSee, or Alcon Clareon Vivity IOLs in both eyes — clear distance and intermediate vision with minimal night-time disturbances. Low-powered readers may still be needed for extended near tasks in low light.

5
Distance, intermediate & near — most freedom from glasses

Alcon PanOptix Pro, or Bausch & Lomb Envista Envy IOLs in both eyes — the most freedom from glasses of all options. Night-time haloes/glare are always present but most patients adapt and are not troubled by this.

Toric (astigmatism-correcting) IOLs — both standard and premium IOLs are available in toric models to treat significant astigmatism, which blurs vision at all distances.
Accuracy: Sophisticated biometry and multiple predictive formulae give 90–95% accuracy for lens strength. If further correction is needed, glasses, contacts, LASIK or further IOL surgery may be considered.
Laser Capsulotomy — all eyes will eventually develop cloudiness behind the IOL (weeks to years post-surgery). A quick, painless laser procedure restores vision. This is a separate treatment not included in the surgery cost.
Pre-existing eye conditions — your eyes need to be free from significant ocular conditions to benefit from premium IOL technology. Options 4 & 5 may not be suitable for all patients.
Financial Considerations — Premium & Toric IOLs
  • Premium and toric IOLs carry additional costs of $690 – $2,701 per eye above standard IOL costs.
  • Premium IOLs are not covered by insurance companies, even when the rest of your cataract surgery is funded.
  • If there is no significant cataract, health insurance will not cover any of the cost of lens replacement surgery.
Summary Comparison
Option 1 & 2Monofocal Option 3Blended Vision Option 4Premium — no haloes Option 5Premium — with haloes
Visual quality Excellent Excellent Good Usually good
Spectacle reduction Poor Good Good Excellent
Haloes / glare Minimal Minimal Minimal Always (usually tolerable)
Depth perception Excellent Good Excellent Excellent
Pre-existing eye problems Suitable Often suitable Often suitable May not be suitable

Patient Resources

Full IOL Information Sheet

Download or print the complete 4-page IOL guide — includes all options, important points, and the summary comparison table — to review at your own pace before your consultation.

Download PDF Guide View Printable Version

New Patient Enquiry

Request a Consultation

Complete the form and our patient coordinators will contact you as soon as possible to discuss your referral and arrange an appointment.

What to Expect

We'll confirm receipt of your enquiry by email within 1 business day
A patient coordinator will call you to discuss your needs and book a convenient time
Your consultation appointment will be as soon as possible - please let us know if you have specific limitations or a preferred location in mind
All information submitted is treated as strictly confidential

Contact Details

📍 aucklandeye.co.nz/specialist/dr-sid-ogra/

📞 0800 25 53 93

✉️ sid@aucklandeye.co.nz

New Patient Form

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Which eye(s) are affected? *

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Lens type interest

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Enquiry Received

Thank you for getting in touch. Our patient coordinators will review your information and contact you as soon as possible to arrange your consultation.

Patient Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about cataract surgery and lens implant options in Auckland.

Cataract surgery involves removing your eye's natural lens once it has become cloudy and replacing it with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, typically takes around 10–15 minutes per eye, and is one of the safest and most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world.

A monofocal IOL provides clear vision at a single distance — glasses will still be needed for other distances. A premium IOL (EDOF or trifocal) significantly reduces or eliminates the need for glasses across a range of distances, but involves some trade-offs in visual quality and potential night-time glare.

An Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) IOL — such as the Alcon Clareon Vivity or Johnson & Johnson PureSee — provides clear distance and intermediate vision with minimal night-time haloes or glare. It suits patients wanting to reduce glasses dependence, including those with mild pre-existing eye conditions.

A trifocal IOL — such as the Alcon PanOptix Pro or Bausch & Lomb Envista Envy — provides clear vision at distance, intermediate and near, giving the greatest glasses freedom of any option. Most patients do not need glasses for everyday tasks. Night-time haloes are always present but most patients adapt well.

Premium and toric IOLs are not covered by health insurance in New Zealand, even when the rest of your cataract surgery is funded. Additional costs range from $690–$2,701 per eye. If there is no significant cataract, insurance will not cover any portion of lens replacement surgery.

Common signs include blurry or cloudy vision, increased glare or halos around lights at night, faded colours, difficulty reading, and frequent changes to your glasses prescription. A consultation with Dr. Ogra will include a full eye examination to determine whether surgery is appropriate for you.

Blended vision involves one IOL set for distance and the other for near/intermediate vision. The brain adapts to use each eye appropriately. Most patients tolerate this very well — it can be simulated with a contact lens trial before committing to surgery.

Yes. Toric IOLs are designed to correct significant astigmatism at the same time as cataract removal. Both standard and premium IOLs are available in toric models. Correcting astigmatism with a toric IOL can dramatically improve unaided vision quality at all distances.