New Royal Society Te Apārangi fellow, Prof Helen Danesh-Meyer

Auckland ophthalmologist Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer has received two major accolades, putting her on top of the world.

The first is being named as one of The Ophthalmologist’s Power List top 10 international glaucoma specialists. The second is being elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, one of New Zealand’s highest academic honours. The Royal Society’s citation recognised her “outstanding leadership in neuro-ophthalmology and glaucoma” and her contribution to translational research that bridges cutting-edge science with meaningful patient outcomes.

This prestigious fellowship is a fitting tribute to Prof Danesh-Meyer’s world-leading research and unwavering commitment to improving patient care, said Professor Dawn Freshwater, University of Auckland’s vice-chancellor. “Her work exemplifies the spirit of innovation and service that defines the University’s mission.”

Prof Danesh-Meyer has been a Top 100 Power List regular since 2021 and this year joins two other Australasian surgeons in the Top 10 glaucoma specialists: Professor Jonathan Crowston, University of Sydney; and Professor Keith Martin, head of ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne and managing director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia.

Awardees were nominated by The Ophthalmologist’s readers, who were asked which ophthalmologist’s influence and achievements they consider a continuing source of inspiration and admiration among their peers. An international judging panel then pared the nominees down to a top 50, dividing them into five specialisms: cataract and refractive; glaucoma; retina; research; and innovation.

Prof Danesh-Meyer said if she’d been told as an undergraduate she would one day be voted among the world’s top 10 glaucoma specialists, she would have assumed it was a clerical error. “At that stage, I was far more invested in the rugby team than the retinal nerve fibre layer! But I might’ve taken it as a promising sign that priorities can evolve.”

She said it is a privilege to be included among such esteemed colleagues whose work continues to advance our understanding of glaucoma. “I’d love to see more rising stars – especially women and clinician-scientists from outside the usual centres.”