CARING PROFESSIONAL Dr Stuart Carroll Ophthalmologist, Auckland Eye Ponsonby resident Dr Stuart Carroll is an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) at Auckland Eye, who has lived and studied in Auckland since he was a teenager. Stuart spent two years training in London and Melbourne before settling here in 2012 to work in public and private practice. He tells Ponsonby News, “I keep myself very busy with work - training registrars, volunteer work overseas, going to conferences, and I have several appointments with our professional college RANZCO. I have too many other interests to list, though in a parallel universe I might have enjoyed being a chef, musician, or architect.” How did you come to be an ophthalmologist? During my fifth year at med school I did an eye clinic attachment. I had no idea what it would be like and had never considered it before then, but it clicked with me instantly - I made the decision right away to pursue it. I wouldn’t change that decision for the world.
PHILIP TREACY FOR M.A.C He’s already designed hats for Alexander MacQueen, Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, and Valentino; now leading London couture hat designer Philip Treacy has collaborated with M.A.C Cosmetics to create a limited edition makeup collection. An O.B.E awardee, Treacy’s work has been worn by Kate Middleton, Kate Winslet, Sarah Jessica Parker and (ahem) Princess Beatrice - in fact, 36 hats designed by Treacy were worn at the royal wedding of Prince William and the now-Duchess of Cambridge. Famed milliner Treacy revisited his extraordinary decades-long career, culling inspiration from his work to create a trio of striking headpieces that showcase facial structure. Each hat was then paired with a collection of M.A.C. makeup products - highlight powder, a brush, lipstick, false lashes, and fluidline/paint pot colour - designed to enhance the PN face’s most evocative features, and available from 20 April. F M.A.C Ponsonby, 3/130 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 4281, www.maccosmetics.co.nz
What do you love about your job? It’s an amazing feeling to restore someone’s sight, it has a profound impact on people’s lives - I never tire of it! Ophthalmology is a very hi-tech field and keeping up to date with the latest technologies appeals to my inner nerd. The best part about a medical career is the constant evolution of knowledge and continual learning - I’ll never get bored. What do you find challenging? Working with children’s eye problems provides me with constant challenges - they don’t tell you what’s wrong with them, they can be difficult to assess, and you have to really engage with them if you want to look at their eyes up close with a big microscope! They say ‘Where there are great challenges there are great rewards’, and I find helping children with eye problems extremely satisfying and fun. How do you differ from other ophthalmologists? We’re quite a bunch of individuals so differences abound. I’m an adult and children’s eye specialist - many of my colleagues prefer not to see children because of the difficulties mentioned above, but I’ve made that a special interest of mine, and there are relatively few paediatric ophthalmologists in New Zealand. Can you share an anecdote about a case or cases? One of my patients grumbled to me after his cataract surgery that while his restored vision had been helpful, he now had a new set of problems - he hadn’t realised how filthy his house was, nor how many wrinkles his wife had! What do you do to care for yourself? I try to keep my life as balanced as possible - healthy food (I love to cook), exercise, and lots of hobbies. I just started learning the guitar, something I’ve always wanted to do. What's your advice to people seeking ophthalmologic treatment? Don’t be afraid to come in and get checked - it’s quick and easy to have a thorough eye examination, and modern laser and surgical techniques have made most eye procedures extremely safe, painless and predictable. F PN AUCKLAND EYE, www.aucklandeye.co.nz
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