Clear vision
Optometrist Alex Petty opens our eyes to smarter eye care, new tech and lifelong sight.
PHOTOS KATIE COX
Alex Petty.
When it comes to eye health, most of us don’t give our eyes a second thought until something feels off. Blurry mornings, tired evenings or a mysterious twitch that won’t quit usually puts our eye health on the radar.
Now Alex Petty, director of Bay Eye Care in Tauranga and UNO’s newest expert voice on all things vision, is here to shift your perspective, both literally and figuratively.
Originally from Auckland, Alex returned to New Zealand in 2016, after years working in Australia. The pull was a love for the Bay lifestyle and the chance to fill a crucial gap in specialist eye care. Nine months later, Bay Eye Care opened its doors. Today, it’s a nationally recognised clinic with a reputation that stretches across the ditch.
“What sets us apart is that we don’t sell glasses,” Alex explains. “We focus 100 percent on clinical care.” That means no upselling and no retail pressure, just expert advice grounded in what’s best for your eyes. It’s an approach that’s earned the clinic a growing fanbase of families who’ve stayed with Alex for years.
The Bay Eye Care team from left: Grace Elliot-Brown and optometrists Aidan Quinlan and Alex Petty.
And it’s not just about what he does, it’s how he does it. Alex’s philosophy combines personal connection with cutting-edge innovation. “No two people, and no two sets of eyes, are the same,” he says. “Understanding someone’s story helps us offer truly tailored care.”
That blend of empathy and expertise has turned Bay Eye Care into a go-to destination for advanced treatments. We’re talking Ortho-K (overnight lenses that reshape your cornea while you sleep), custom lenses for keratoconus, high-tech solutions for dry eye and the clinic's latest investment, LipiFlow, which treats dry eye at its root by unblocking the oil glands in your eyelids.
They're also ahead of the curve with genetic testing for glaucoma, using a simple cheek swab to assess your risk and personalise your treatment plan. It's science, but with a heart.
Still, for Alex, the real reward lies in the long-term relationships. “I’ve watched kids grow up in my clinic, coming in shy at age eight, then at sixteen they’re tall, confident and talking about their future. That connection is what it’s all about.”
In 2020, when Alex faced a sudden cancer diagnosis, he was forced to step away from the clinic for three months.
While away, he was overwhelmed by the messages of support. “People wrote to say I’d changed their life or helped their child see again. I never expected that. It reminded me why we do what we do.”
Now, he’s bringing that same passion to the pages of UNO, kicking off a four-part series to bust myths, share insights and answer the most common questions about eye health.
First on his list? Contact lens hygiene. Alex warns that wearing lenses longer than prescribed or sleeping in them is a major no-no. “Even if you’ve never had a problem, all it takes is one bad bug, to risk a potentially blinding infection. You only get one set of eyes!” Alex warns. He’s also ready to set the record straight on reading glasses. “They don’t make your eyes worse. That’s a myth,” he laughs. “As we age, our eye structures naturally change, causing vision issues. Putting off help just leads to more strain and frustration. The good news is that there are amazing solutions, from high-tech contact lenses to surgery.”
Alex's new column will cut through the jargon, offer practical advice and answer the questions many of us didn’t even know we had. Keep an eye out for it in the next issue.