Damehood for a leading ophthalmologist
Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer is the first female professor of ophthalmology in NZ. The King’s New Year’s Honours named her Dame Companion of the Order of New Zealand.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is a world leader in surgery, research, and community service. She holds the Sir William and Lady Stevenson Professorship in Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland.
In 2025, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. This is New Zealand’s top honour for scholarly work. It recognised her groundbreaking research on how the brain and eye interact. Her work has changed how we treat sight-threatening pituitary tumours. She discovered a non-invasive test that is now used around the world to plan neurosurgery and monitor patients.
Over twenty years ago, Professor Danesh-Meyer co-founded Glaucoma New Zealand. She still chairs this important not-for-profit group with 15,000 members. The organisation shapes public policy on vision and health. It does this through education and evidence-based advocacy.
Her community work also includes leading the Vision Research Foundation. She founded it to support early and mid-career New Zealanders in vision research. She also leads Women in Vision. This national forum empowers female ophthalmologists, optometrists, and students. She received the Paul Harris Rotary Medal. This is one of Rotary International’s highest awards. It honours her outstanding community service.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is also a global leader in ophthalmology. She is the only New Zealander elected President of the Neuro-ophthalmology Society of Australia. She received the College Medal, the top award from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, for her outstanding service.
“I’m humbled and honoured to be recognised for work that reflects the teamwork of many exceptional colleagues.” – Professor Danesh-Meyer
To read more about Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer’s Damehood click here.