The Future of Vision at Eyehub
Deteriorating eyesight no longer has to be a fact of life. Kathy Sundstrom speaks to the Sunshine Coast clinic bringing world-leading laser technology home, and helping locals see clearly again.
Mobile phone? Check. Wallet? Check. Glasses? Oh dammit, where did I put them now?
If you are over 40 and have found yourself needing glasses more than ever, that scenario will be all too familiar.
One minute you are reading the fine print without a second thought. The next, you are holding menus at arm’s length and adding spectacles to the mental checklist every time you leave the house.
Vision deterioration after the age of 40 is a fact of life, even for those who once proudly read the bottom line at every annual eye test.
It is called presbyopia and, as we age, the natural lens inside the eye becomes thicker and less flexible. The result is difficulty focusing on near and intermediate objects. Reading a favourite paperback or checking a text message suddenly requires assistance.
For years, the options were limited. Reading glasses, multifocal, eventually more invasive procedures such as refractive lens exchange, which replaces the natural lens with an artificial one. But advances in laser technology have changed the landscape.
On the Sunshine Coast, EyeHub is now offering Zeiss Presbyond Laser Vision Correction, designed to correct presbyopia by reshaping the surface of the eye while preserving the natural lens.
It means many patients in their mid-to-late 40s and beyond can reduce or even eliminate their reliance on glasses. The best part – it is available on the Sunshine Coast. EyeHub is currently the only clinic in Queensland to offer this specific Zeiss Presbyond platform.
For EyeHub business manager Harry Singh and lead ophthalmologist Dr Sonia Moorthy, bringing world class technology to the region they call home was always the goal.
Sonia trained in specialist ophthalmology at Sydney Eye Hospital and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.
She completed international fellowships in Singapore and London before returning to Australia with Harry and their son and daughter.
The couple chose the Sunshine Coast as the place to grow their family and their practice.
“We could see the Coast was growing and evolving,” Harry says. “There was strong demand for laser vision correction and people were having to travel far for it. We wanted to make sure they did not have to.”
EyeHub has offered refractive surgery for several years, but recently invested in the Zeiss VisuMax 800 Femtosecond laser platform, the latest generation in laser vision correction technology.
Alongside Presbyond for presbyopia, the platform also supports Smile pro, a minimally invasive procedure that treats myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.
More than 12 million eyes have been treated worldwide using Smile technology and with Smile pro, the laser treatment itself can take as little as eight seconds.
Patients are treated onsite in a purpose-built laser suite designed around the equipment. The experience, Harry says, is intentionally different from a typical clinical setting.
“Our aim was to create a calm and ‘zen like’ environment, aimed at relaxing our patients while delivering world-class laser vision correction,” he says.
“People are making a significant investment in their vision, and therefore have the highest expectations.
“A patient’s journey begins with our Laser Vision coordinator, who will be with them throughout their laser journey. Once they pass their assessment and proceed with surgery, they typically arrive in the morning, are made comfortable, and receive relaxation drops before the brief laser treatment.”
After a short recovery period in the dedicated patient lounge, most are heading home within an hour.
Many notice improvement almost immediately, with vision often described as remarkably clear the following day.
“It is a myth that laser surgery does not last,” Harry says. “If your eyes are suitable, the correction is designed to
be long term.”
Harry believes the key is careful patient assessment, tailoring treatment to each individual and setting realistic visual expectations
“Every eye is unique,” he says. “We combine leading edge technology with personalised, evidence-based care to achieve the safest and most effective result for each patient.”
Transparency is also central to the EyeHub philosophy.
Pricing is clearly structured, with no hidden surprises, and includes assessment, treatment and comprehensive post operative care.
Flexible payment options are available, reinforcing the message that laser vision correction is not just a procedure, but a long term investment in quality of life.
For many in their 40s and 50s who have reluctantly accepted reading glasses as part of ageing, the idea of seeing clearly again without reaching for frames can feel transformative.
“It is not just about seeing well,” Sonia says. “It is about living freely and fully.”
And perhaps leaving the house with just your phone and wallet after all.
WHY EYEHUB?
• The only Queensland clinic currently offering advanced Zeiss Presbyond laser technology
• Latest-generation Zeiss VisuMax 800 platform
• Purpose-built laser suite onsite
• Personalised assessment and treatment plans
• Transparent pricing with comprehensive follow-up care
