Dr Dianne Sharp

Ophthalmologist Dr Dianne Sharp, founder of Macular Degeneration New Zealand (MDNZ), and retired optometrist and internationally-recognised pioneer diver, Quentin Bennett, have been recognised in this year’s New Year’s Honours list. Dr Sharp was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to ophthalmology and Bennett a member of the New Zealand Order or Merit (MNZM) for services to optometry, diving and conservation.

It was a wonderful surprise and a great honour to receive the honour, said Dr Sharp, an ophthalmologist with Retina Specialists and Greenlane Clinical Centre in Auckland. “My greatest supporter over the years has been my ophthalmologist husband, Dr Ian Elliott, along with positive encouragement and practical support from our two sons, Ben and Jason.”

Dr Sharp said she was inspired to study ophthalmology through the enthusiastic teaching of Professor John Parr and the late Associate Professor Gordon Sanderson during her Otago medical school days. She developed her medical retinal expertise during a fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital with Professor Alan Bird. “Alan imparted not only knowledge and the principles of good ophthalmic management, but also the importance of giving hope. He modelled a practice of ensuring every patient left their consultation with a sense of optimism, even when our treatment options were limited or absent, and that inspired me to ensure there was support available in New Zealand.” Dr Sharp set up MDNZ in 2009 to raise awareness and advocate for those with macular degeneration, developing it from a small group of volunteers into an effective agency delivering services to more than 7,000 people, before stepping down as chair in 2017. She also established an ophthalmic electrodiagnostic unit providing diagnostic services for acquired and inherited retinal disorders and helped set up the multidisciplinary visual rehabilitation clinic at Auckland Hospital and the patient support group, Retina New Zealand.

Quentin Bennett, told the NZ Herald, he was “totally and utterly staggered” to receive the award, but is still diving at age 77 and heading to West Papua and French Polynesia in 2019 and Indonesia and the Solomon Islands in 2020. He ran an optometry practice in Napier, including a long-term visiting practice to the remote community of Wairoa, from 1967 until his retirement in 2011, and was an active member of the New Zealand optometry community serving as a national councillor of the New Zealand Association of Optometrists and president of the New Zealand Cornea and Contact Lens Society. During his career, Bennett was awarded a fellowship with the American Academy of Optometry and was recognised for his extensive experience as a scuba diver and specialist in space and underwater visual research. He’s also published several scientific papers on these subjects and made significant contributions to diving technology and safety, optics and underwater photography, and continues to “quietly” talk to the government to improve its conservation record.

Dr Sharp, meanwhile, said she hopes her award will provide further momentum for the supportive work of Retina New Zealand, the establishment of more low vision clinics throughout New Zealand and the advocacy work of MDNZ.