New South Wales ophthalmologist Dr Michael Steiner, who has more than 40 years’ experience in eye surgery, has been recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list.
Dr Steiner was one of two people in the broader ophthalmic and low-vision fields honoured.
The other was ACT’s Mr Peter Granleese, from the Canberra Blind Society, who was recognised for his service to people who are blind or have low vision.
Dr Steiner was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for “significant service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology as a surgeon, and to professional associations”.
He is something of a pioneer within Australia’s ophthalmic circles.
He graduated in medicine from Sydney University in 1970, became a fFellow of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists and was appointed to the position of honorary secretary of the college in 1976.
As an honorary ophthalmic surgeon to Bankstown & Lewisham Hospitals, he pioneered intraocular lens implantation for cataract in both institutions and was among the first to perform laser vision correction surgery when it was introduced to Australia in 1991.
He is a foundation member of the Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and was president of RANZCO in 1999-2000 and president of AMA NSW 2010-2012 and president of the ASO 2014-2017.
He is also a fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of the UK and a member of the Oxford Ophthalmological Congress.
Dr Steiner told Insight that it was “exciting and humbling to be honoured in this way”.
“It has been a blessing to be involved in a profession about which I’m so passionate for over 50 years and, at the same time, as well as being clinically active and looking after the wonderful population of Auburn I’ve had the joy of being involved with our great medical profession both in my own specialty of ophthalmology and more generally with the Australian Medical Association and the Council of Procedural Specialists.
“I would like to thank my practice staff, all of whom have been with me for over 15 years, and of course special thanks to my wife Imogen and my sons Nicholas and Edward, who’ve all supported me through my career.”
Granleese was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his work.
He has represented blind and low-vision people for many years and been involved with many organisations.
He has been a public officer with the Canberra Blind Society since 2022, but also the organisation’s president between 2006 and 2021.
Granleese has held a number of other roles in the disability community, including leadership positions within Blind Citizens Australia ACT and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association of the ACT.
He has also supported other groups, including the Royal Life Saving Society ACT and Achilles Running Club Canberra.
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