Prof Anthony Molteno, who died on Friday at age 85, earned an international reputation for his research.
The Molteno implant, which bears his name, is used to control the progression of glaucoma, caused by damage to the optic nerve; it has been implanted in thousands of patients worldwide.
Prof Molteno established the Otago Glaucoma Surgery Outcome Study, a long-term follow-up study into glaucoma surgery.
It followed more than 1000 eyes with a Molteno implant, and more than 1000 eyes that had a trabeculectomy, at Dunedin Hospital since 1977 to determine their long-term outcomes.
Prof Molteno published nearly 100 articles and seven book chapters.
His work received many international and national honours and awards. He became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2006 New Year’s Honours and received the Goldmann Medal from the International Glaucoma Association in 1998 for his significant contribution to the understanding and treatment of glaucoma.
An obituary will follow.
— Staff reporter
