Dr Shenton Chew’s areas of expertise include premium cataract/lens replacement surgery and comprehensive glaucoma care. He has formal refractive training and experience with a wide range of premium intraocular (IOL) options used in cataract/lens replacement surgery to reduce, or even eliminate, the need for glasses over a range of visual tasks from watching TV to reading a book. Enhancing and restoring the vision failure that a patient experiences over time is something that he finds particularly rewarding. This complements his glaucoma practice, where the goal is to preserve vision and thus quality of life for his patients who may be fearful of losing their driving license or of severe visual disability/blindness in their lifetime.

The cornerstone of Shenton’s practice-style is developing individualised and patient-focused care. One of his key strengths is his ability to communicate in an empathetic fashion that promotes understanding of the treatment offered. His two-year comprehensive glaucoma fellowship, at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, armed him with expertise in complex glaucoma and cataract surgical techniques, including experience in the expanding field of “minimally invasive glaucoma surgery” (MIGS) using devices such as the iStent, Hydrus, and Preserflo, as well as the most current trabeculectomy and tube shunt techniques.

Shenton is also a consultant ophthalmologist at both Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) and Counties-Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB). Because of the increasing burden of chronic eye disease on our strained public healthcare system, he has a strong interest in improving the efficiency and quality of Auckland’s ophthalmology service. He uses his positions as the current chairman of the ADHB surgeons’ meeting and a board member of Ophthalmology NZ to advocate for patients that need access to tertiary level ophthalmic care.

Shenton also has a strong background in academic research, having obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree during his two-year optic nerve research fellowship at The University of Auckland and remains an honorary senior lecturer with the University. He is well published, presents regularly to international ophthalmic meetings and enjoys tutoring optometrists and the next generation of ophthalmologists.