Dr Nick Mantell
Specialist Eye Surgeon
MBChB, FRANZCO
About Dr Nick Mantell
As a specialist in cataract surgery, Dr Mantell often gets asked by patients how many cataract surgeries he has performed. In fact, he and his team have successfully performed thousands, making his practice one of the busiest and experienced cataract surgery specialists in New Zealand.
As each cataract patient is unique, Dr Mantell believes in providing a totally personalised approach and always doing the best he can for all his patients. Each procedure, of which there are many possibilities, is customised to fit your individual needs. See his patient care mission statement here.
Dr Mantell's patients receive not only the benefits of the latest surgical techniques, but his personal attention and support, before and after the operation. As a result, they experience a cataract procedure that is painless and stress-free. Nick is also a recognised provider for all major health insurance companies, meaning patients can experience hassle free claims and his team can organise prior approval for their surgery for them.
Overview of Dr Mantell’s Achievements (click to expand) 
Specialist in:
- Cataract Surgery
- Lensectomy
- Bioptics
- iLASIK laser eye surgery
Training:
- Diploma in Refractive Surgery – Sydney University
- iLASIK certified surgeon
Positions held:
- Ophthalmology Surgeon at Greenlane Hospital
- Vision Correction Specialist & Director – Eye Institute
- Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology – University of Auckland
- Eye care consultant to the Manukau SuperClinic™ (CMDHB), New Zealand's leading specialist out-patient facility
- Helped establish a cataract clinic in Fiji
Associations & memberships:
- Member – American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS)
- Member – Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS)
- Member – American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Member – New Zealand Medical Council
- Fellow – Royal Australian and NZ College of Ophthalmologists
- Fellow – (Vitreoretinal Surgical) Royal Manchester Eye Hospital, UK
- Fellow – (Vitreoretinal Surgical) Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne
- Fellow – (Cataract and Primary Care) Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
Dr Mantell’s training & experience
Since achieving his Refractive Diploma at Sydney University, Dr Mantell has worked in a number of important roles in both the private and public sector health care. He worked as an Ophthalmology Surgeon at Green Lane Hospital for three years, and also trained House Surgeons, Registrars and Fellows at Green Lane Hospital.
His expertise has been recognised by the University of Auckland Medical School, where he holds the post of Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ophthalmology. He is also actively involved in the ongoing teaching of optometrists.
Dr Mantell also established, in conjunction with his Eye Institute colleagues, new clinics on the North Shore and in South Auckland.
Dr Mantell’s specialisms
- Cataract Surgery
Dr Mantell has performed thousands of cataract operations, making him one of the most active cataract surgeons in New Zealand. - Lensectomy
Dr Mantell is an expert in Lensectomy - a procedure that replaces the natural lens of the eye with an Intraocular Lens (IOL) and can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism (see below for more). - Bioptics
Dr Mantell also specialises in Bioptics – a relatively new concept that is achieving remarkable outcomes. Bioptics involves using a combination of surgical vision correction techniques in which the refractive error of the eye is treated on both the lenticular and corneal optical planes. - iLASIK laser eye surgery
Dr Mantell is a also a specialist in LASIK surgery, and a certified iLASIK surgeon, offering tailored treatments and delivering the best possible vision for each individual patient.
Intraocular Lenses (IOLs): seeing clearly without glasses after surgery
Refractive-cataract surgery also gives Dr Mantell's patients the opportunity to become less dependent on glasses. The cataract is replaced by an implantable lens (IOLs) at the time of surgery. With this technique he is able to correct short sightedness, long sightedness and astigmatism of the eye.
Dr Mantell's team spends the time needed to review what typical activities are most important to you, so they can best determine whether being independent of glasses for those activities is something that you would like and that they can achieve.
Dr Mantell offers four different strategies to help patients’ reduce their dependence on glasses based on their needs, which are:
Patients who choose distance dominant blended vision gain excellent quality distance and intermediate vision. They are only dependent on glasses for near activities like reading.
This is a good option if you:
- you don’t mind wearing glasses for near tasks
- you want that best quality distance vision in all conditions
- you want to eliminate ghosting, halos or glare in your vision
- you are not suitable for blended vision (see below) after a contact lens trial
Email mantellgroup@eyeinstitute.co.nz for more information on which IOL is best for you, or to schedule an appointment.
Blended vision is the most common surgical approach to spectacle independence for both distance and near. It involves one eye being focused clearly in the distance and the other intentionally made short-sighted for near vision such as reading.
This is a good option if you:
- have successfully practiced monovision with contact lenses
- have higher amounts of astigmatism and this is being corrected with toric IOLs
- do not mind using glasses from time to time to achieve full distance or near vision (for both eyes)
Email mantellgroup@eyeinstitute.co.nz for more information on which IOL is best for you, or to schedule an appointment.
Unlike monofocal/toric IOLs, diffractive multifocal IOLs are designed to allow the eye to see both near and far distances in both eyes without the use of glasses. This is via the ingenious use of concentric rings called diffraction gratings, which have properties of bending light rays to two points simultaneously. This allows two focal points to be formed at once, one for distance and another for near vision, allowing true binocular vision for distance and near.
This is a good option if you:
- want true binocular vision for both near and distance vision of blended vision
- do not mind some halos around images at night and slightly decreased contrast sensitivity
- want freedom from glasses
Email mantellgroup@eyeinstitute.co.nz for more information on which IOL is best for you, or to schedule an appointment.
These lenses recreate the natural refocusing of the human lens and provide excellent distance and intermediate vision. The near vision is usually also very good, however some patients may still require glasses to read very small print.
Email mantellgroup@eyeinstitute.co.nz for more information on which IOL is best for you, or to schedule an appointment.
Dr Mantell's Team
Dr Mantell works as part of a close-knit team who are knowledgeable, caring and here to help. Dr Mantell's ophthalmic technicians Karen Gardner and Jennifer Kinsella (middle photo) assist Nick in the clinics, performing all the ophthalmologic tests necessary for the preliminary and highly specific eye assessments, and in theatre.
Dr Mantell's receptionists are Janet Sweeney for the Remuera and the South Auckland clinics, Eve Berry for the North Shore clinic and Tina Fitness for the Remuera clinic. (Janet & Eve are in the photo on the right.)
Dr Mantell’s family & personal interests
Dr Mantell loves spending time with his wife Michele, and their dogs who are truly the masters of the home. Any spare time is for the outdoors – waterskiing, running and skiing.
People would be surprised to know that their surgeon was a former front-rower for Auckland and Waikato Provincial Rugby – his ultimate moment winning the Ranfurly Shield with Waikato!
Make an appointment with Dr Nick Mantell
Please fill in the form below to enquire or book your appointment with Dr Nick Mantell. Appointments available are:
- Monday to Friday – 9.00am to 5.00pm
- Saturday mornings – by request only
top
