Dr Bruce Hadden
MBChB, FRACS, FRANZCO
Dr Bruce Hadden's surgical practice concentrates solely on Laser Corrective Surgery and Cataract Surgery in which he has completed significant clinical research, and in which he has many years of experience. He is proud to be one of the Eye Institute's surgeons, who both introduced laser Corrective Surgery to New Zealand, and established modern small-incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery in New Zealand. Dr Bruce Hadden trained in medicine and ophthalmology in New Zealand. Then he did a two year post-graduate Fellowship at the prestigious Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida.
Laser Refractive Surgery
Dr Hadden and his Eye Institute colleagues introduced laser Corrective Surgery into New Zealand in 1992. The experience of the Eye Institute's surgeons in laser Refractive Surgery exceeds that of all the other centres combined, and totals around 35,000 eyes. They have presented their results at international conferences, and have published many articles on laser Corrective Surgery in peer-reviewed international journals. They continue at the cutting edge, having last year introduced Zyoptix Wavefront technology to New Zealand. This was the next giant leap after the introduction of LASIK itself in 1998.
Subsequently, in 2003 the Eye Institute again led New Zealand in introducing IRIS RECOGNITION. This advanced technology has two important functions. Firstly, it requires the laser to recognize the iris of the eye to be treated, as being the same eye that was measured with the Orbscan and Aberrometer. The iris is as unique as a fingerprint. This is a valuable identity safeguard. Secondly, any torsion or twisting of the eye when lying under the laser is recognized and compensated for by the laser. This ensures that the axis of the astigmatism is accurately aligned and treated.
Cataract Surgery
Dr Hadden and fellow Eye Institute surgeons introduced modern small-incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery to Auckland in 1990. They have continued to lead the way with cataract surgery advances. Eye Institute surgeons use the latest Alcon Infiniti cold phacoemulsifier, together with new intra-ocular lenses which can be rolled up to fit through a tiny incision only 3.2mm long. These new lenses also filter out ultra-violet light, and diminish the transmission of long-wavelength blue light, which may help protect against the development of age-related macular degeneration.
Pastimes
When time permits from patient care and College work, he jogs, cycles, gardens and reads.
Family
Dr Hadden is married to Wendy Hadden, who is specialist radiologist, with expertise in women's radiology. She is a partner in Auckland Radiology Group, and a part-time consultant at National Women's Hospital (now Auckland City Hospital).
Dr Hadden and Wendy have two sons. Peter is an ophthalmologist, sub-specialising in vitreo-retinal and cataract surgery. He works both at Eye Institute and at Auckland Hospital. He and his wife Andrea have three children. Their other son Andrew is also married, and is a lawyer, living in London.
Principal Qualifications
- Fellow Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
- Fellow Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology
- Past-President, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Dr Hadden was an Examiner for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists from 1984 until 1996, and from then until 2001 was Chairman of the Board of Examiners. He was the President of the College in 2002-2003, and was the first New Zealander to hold this prestigious office.
Publications
Dr Hadden has presented at many eye surgery meetings in New Zealand and Australia, and has also presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He has published 21 papers in peer-reviewed ophthalmic journals. 