Fendalton Eye Clinic, Christchurch: what treatment costs and which insurers cover it
Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.
Fendalton Eye Clinic, trading as lasik.co.nz, prices LASIK, SMILE Pro and PRK laser eye surgery at $3,750 per eye and is the only fully accredited laser eye surgery centre in the South Island (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026; Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). It is a Southern Cross Healthcare Affiliated Provider for selected services and a nib First Choice Health Provider (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Its two ophthalmologists, Dr David Kent and Dr Zea Munro, have collectively completed more than 36,000 laser eye surgery procedures (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What is Fendalton Eye Clinic and who runs it?
Fendalton Eye Clinic operates as a Laser Eye Surgery Centre led by Dr David Kent and Dr Zea Munro, using a Visumax800 femtosecond laser to deliver LASIK, SMILE Pro, PRK, refractive lens exchange and cataract surgery, plus keratoconus treatments including corneal cross-linking and keraring surgery (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). It holds accreditation to the NZS 8165 rooms-based office surgery and procedures standard, and describes itself as the only clinic in the South Island with that accreditation for laser eye surgery (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Cataract and refractive lens exchange surgery are performed not at the Fendalton consulting rooms but at Christchurch Eye Surgery, a dedicated day-surgery facility opened in 2014 with four operating theatres (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026). For a wider view of Christchurch's private surgical options, see the private hospitals directory and the healthcare providers directory.
Locations and contact
| Location | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Fendalton Eye Clinic (main clinic) | 10 Otara Street, Fendalton, Christchurch | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Christchurch (free laser screening) | Assessments held in Christchurch | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Invercargill (free laser screening) | Corner of Tay St & Racecourse Road, Invercargill 9810 | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Dunedin (free laser screening) | 30 Duke Street, Dunedin North | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Queenstown (free laser screening) | 18 McBride Street, Queenstown 9300 | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Nelson (free laser screening) | 66 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010 | 0800 37 39 37 (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
Fendalton Eye Clinic's surgery hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and free parking is available on site at 10 Otara Street (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026; Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026). Its screening-only sites in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson are for the free laser suitability assessment, with surgery itself carried out in Christchurch (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026). Free online assessments are also offered by Zoom or telephone for patients who cannot travel (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What does treatment cost at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
Fendalton Eye Clinic publishes one clear laser eye surgery price and does not publish a specific cataract surgery figure, saying the fee is confirmed at consultation.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| LASIK, SMILE Pro or PRK laser surgery, one eye | $3,750, including six months' follow-up care (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Free laser eye surgery assessment | Free, at Christchurch, Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown, Nelson or by Zoom/phone (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Cataract surgery, at Christchurch Eye Surgery | Not published on Fendalton Eye Clinic's own site; confirmed at consultation (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
A seasonal spring finance offer at the time of writing gives 24 months interest-free with Q Card/Q Mastercard for laser surgery performed in September and October 2026, or 12 months interest-free with Gem Visa, subject to a $3,000 minimum spend, lending criteria, an establishment fee and other Ts&Cs (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026). For a market-wide comparison of these prices, see laser eye surgery cost NZ and cataract surgery cost NZ, and our general eye consultation cost page.
Is laser eye surgery covered by health insurance at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
No. Laser eye surgery is excluded from New Zealand health insurance regardless of provider, because it corrects a refractive error rather than treating disease. Southern Cross's Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two policy document, effective from 1 April 2026, states: "We don't cover any costs related to, or incurred as a consequence of, correction of refractive visual errors or astigmatism by surgery, or by surgically implanted intraocular lenses, or by laser treatment" (Southern Cross Wellbeing plan document, retrieved 9 September 2026). Fendalton Eye Clinic's own finance page markets interest-free payment plans rather than insurance cover for laser surgery, consistent with this exclusion (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Which insurers cover treatment at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
Fendalton Eye Clinic states directly on Healthpoint that it "is an affiliated provider with Southern Cross Healthcare Insurance for selected services and a NIB First Choice Health Provider" (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026), and its own cataract page repeats the same claim with both insurer logos (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
| Insurer | What is published |
|---|---|
| Southern Cross | Affiliated Provider for selected services; AP status is provider- and procedure-specific, so check Southern Cross Healthcare Finder before assuming cover (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| nib | Named nib First Choice Health Provider, where nib says 100% of eligible costs are covered at First Choice providers (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026; nib, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| AIA | Requires prior approval before non-emergency treatment or hospitalisation under its Private Health Umbrella wording (AIA Private Health Policy Wording, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| Partners Life | Surgical benefits of up to $600,000 a year per life assured, subject to policy terms (Partners Life, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
See also health insurance companies in NZ, Southern Cross health insurance, Southern Cross prior approval, nib health insurance, nib prior approval, AIA health insurance and Partners Life health insurance.
How do referrals and access work at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
No referral is required to book a free laser screening assessment; patients can book directly online or by phone (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026). Appointments with Dr Kent or Dr Munro for cataract or other eye conditions can also be arranged by contacting the clinic on 0800 37 39 37 or [email protected] (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). The complimentary screening is a suitability check by a technician, not a full eye examination, and Fendalton Eye Clinic notes it does not replace a comprehensive examination with an optometrist or ophthalmologist (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). See our health insurance guide for how prior approval generally works once a specialist confirms treatment.
Cataract surgery is usually covered; laser surgery is not
The distinction that decides whether your policy pays is medical necessity, not which clinic performs the operation.
| Procedure | Typically covered by health insurance? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cataract surgery, standard lens, at Christchurch Eye Surgery | Usually yes, subject to excess, prior approval and pre-existing condition rules | Restores sight lost to disease (Southern Cross Wellbeing plan document, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
| LASIK, SMILE Pro or PRK laser eye surgery | No | Named exclusion for correction of refractive error by laser treatment (Southern Cross Wellbeing plan document, retrieved 9 September 2026) |
For the full wording and how a premium lens upgrade is treated at consultation, see cataract surgery cost NZ.
Alternatives to Fendalton Eye Clinic
Auckland readers should compare Auckland Eye or Eye Institute, both of which publish a comparable laser eye surgery price. North Shore patients can see Milford Eye Clinic, and Waikato patients Hamilton Eye Clinic. For procedures outside ophthalmology in Christchurch, see the private hospitals directory.
Common questions about Fendalton Eye Clinic
How much does treatment cost at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
Laser eye surgery (LASIK, SMILE Pro or PRK) is priced at $3,750 per eye including six months' follow-up care; cataract surgery at the affiliated Christchurch Eye Surgery facility is not published and is confirmed at consultation (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Is Fendalton Eye Clinic covered by health insurance?
Fendalton Eye Clinic is a Southern Cross Affiliated Provider for selected services and a nib First Choice Health Provider, but AP and First Choice status varies by procedure, so confirm cover for your specific treatment before booking (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Do I need a referral for Fendalton Eye Clinic?
No referral is required for the free laser eye surgery screening assessment, which can be booked directly; other consultations with Dr Kent or Dr Munro can also be arranged by contacting the clinic directly (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Where is Fendalton Eye Clinic located in Christchurch?
Fendalton Eye Clinic's main clinic is at 10 Otara Street, Fendalton, Christchurch, with free laser screening assessments also offered in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Does Fendalton Eye Clinic treat cataracts as well as general eye care?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic's ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery and refractive lens exchange at the separate Christchurch Eye Surgery day-surgery facility, alongside their laser eye surgery and keratoconus treatments at Fendalton itself (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Is Fendalton Eye Clinic the same as lasik.co.nz?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic trades under the domain lasik.co.nz and is described on Healthpoint as "Fendalton Eye Clinic - Laser Eye Surgery Centre" (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). The clinic also runs free laser vision screening assessments at satellite locations in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson, with the surgery itself performed in Christchurch (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Who are the surgeons at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
Dr David Kent and Dr Zea Munro are the clinic's ophthalmologists, and Healthpoint records both as consultants at the practice (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). Together they have collectively completed more than 36,000 laser eye surgery procedures, which the clinic cites as the basis for its claim to be the leaders in laser vision correction in Christchurch (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Is Fendalton Eye Clinic accredited?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic says it is fully accredited to the NZS 8165 rooms-based office surgery and procedures standard, and describes itself as the only clinic in the South Island with that laser eye surgery accreditation (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Can I get a free laser eye surgery assessment near me if I don't live in Christchurch?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic runs free laser screening assessments in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson, plus a virtual option by Zoom or telephone, though surgery itself is performed in Christchurch (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What laser eye surgery techniques does Fendalton Eye Clinic offer?
Fendalton Eye Clinic offers LASIK, SMILE Pro and PRK (Advanced Surface Treatment) using a Visumax800 femtosecond laser, with the choice between techniques a clinical decision based on your cornea and prescription (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026; Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Does Fendalton Eye Clinic treat keratoconus?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic offers keratoconus treatment options including corneal cross-linking and keraring surgery, alongside its cataract, laser and refractive lens exchange services (Healthpoint, retrieved 9 September 2026). Neither of these keratoconus procedures has a published price on the clinic's own site, so ask for a written quote once your ophthalmologist has assessed the stage of your condition.
Can I finance laser eye surgery at Fendalton Eye Clinic?
Yes. Fendalton Eye Clinic's current offer gives 24 months interest-free with Q Card or Q Mastercard for surgery performed in September and October 2026, or 12 months interest-free with Gem Visa, both subject to a minimum spend, lending criteria and fees (Fendalton Eye Clinic, retrieved 9 September 2026).
Verdict
QuoteHub's read is that Fendalton Eye Clinic's accreditation and dual Southern Cross and nib First Choice status make it a straightforward option for South Island patients seeking laser eye surgery, and its published $3,750-per-eye price is directly comparable with the Auckland groups. The cataract-surgery gap is the same one every clinic on this site has: ask for a written surgical-fee quote from Christchurch Eye Surgery before you decide, because that figure is not published online. For background on what your own policy would pay towards eye surgery, see health insurance, is health insurance worth it in NZ and the QuoteHub Premium Index for what cover itself costs. Our guides and costs hubs cover the wider set of procedures this site tracks.
Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.
Adviser's view
QuoteHub's read is that Fendalton Eye Clinic's accreditation and dual Southern Cross and nib First Choice status make it a straightforward option for South Island patients seeking laser eye surgery, with a published per-eye price directly comparable with the Auckland groups. The cataract-surgery gap is the same one every clinic on this site has: ask for a written surgical-fee quote, since that figure is not published online.
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Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Fendalton Eye Clinic: Cost and Insurer Cover. www.quotehub.co.nz/providers/fendalton-eye-clinic. Updated 2026-09-09.
References
- Healthpoint, Fendalton Eye Clinic
- Fendalton Eye Clinic, Laser eye surgery cost and finance
- Fendalton Eye Clinic, Contact Us
- Fendalton Eye Clinic, Cataracts
- Fendalton Eye Clinic, NZS 8165 certification
- Fendalton Eye Clinic, FAQ
- Southern Cross Health Society, Wellbeing One and Wellbeing Two plan document
- nib, First Choice network
- AIA Private Health Policy Wording
- Partners Life, Private Medical Cover overview
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