Questions have been asked over whether the health system has the resources to deliver the changes to those suffering with cataracts.
All New Zealanders with mild vision impairment from cataracts will now qualify for surgery under the new nationally consistent threshold, which removes what's known as the postcode lottery.
This will enable approximately 3,500 more surgeries to be delivered.
General Practice Chair Bryan Betty told Francesca Rudkin these are likely to be rolled out slowly.
He says the issue is that if you put 2,000 - 3,000 people on a operating waiting list you have the be able to resource it.
LISTEN ABOVE

Tim Adams: Auckland FC Fan Group Representative previews the A-League Grand Final clash
02:56

Paul Giberd: Social Housing Aotearoa CEO on the social housing overhaul and possible impact on elderly people
04:11

Michael Baker: Otago University Public Health Professor on Pharmac's proposal to expand free flu vaccines
03:43