Helen Danesh-Meyer

About Helen Danesh-Meyer

Make a bold prediction for the future of glaucoma treatment?

By 2040, glaucoma management will be transformed with precision medicine, AI-guided monitoring, and breakthrough therapies turning glaucoma into a preventable and highly manageable condition.

Five areas that I see will transform glaucoma care are:

AI-driven early detection & risk prediction. AI-powered screening tools will enable much earlier and more precise interventions before significant vision loss occurs.

Smart drug delivery systems. Long-acting, implantable drug devices or nanotechnology-based eye drops will minimize patient adherence issues and ensure continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) control.

Minimally invasive & non-surgical interventions. The future will see a shift towards less invasive procedures with fewer complications,

Non-IOP targeted therapies. Future treatments will shift focus beyond IOP reduction, targeting mitochondrial health, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and vascular dysregulation, which are increasingly recognized as key contributors to glaucoma progression.

Gene therapy & regenerative medicine. Advances in gene editing and stem cell therapy will allow targeted repair of damaged optic nerve cells and even regeneration of retinal ganglion cells, potentially reversing vision loss.

What advice would you give your younger self?

If I were starting off in the glaucoma space, here’s the advice I’d give myself:

Be curious. Challenge strongly held beliefs. Neuroscience, AI, space medicine, bioengineering – ideas from these areas might unlock the next big advance. The biggest breakthroughs in medicine often come from unexpected places – be open to radical, interdisciplinary ideas.

Be brave. The future of glaucoma care will not come from doing what has always been done. The biggest advances often sound impossible at first – don’t be afraid to explore wild, unconventional ideas.

Be in it for the long game. Glaucoma is a lifelong disease – your work should be focused on long-term patient outcomes. Remember you and your patients are going to grow old together – this is a journey. Cherish the relationships and be their doctor beyond their glaucoma. Advocate for their overall well-being, not just their IOP.

Be data-driven. Get comfortable with data as it redefines diagnosis and disease progression tracking – embrace it. Even if you're not a data scientist, learn to work with AI experts.

Be collaborative. The most exciting developments in glaucoma are happening at the intersection of disciplines – vascular biology, neuroscience, architecture, engineering, optometry – all have something to contribute. Think globally – connect with biotech start-ups, industry, government agencies and funding bodies early to drive real-world impact.