Anat Loewenstein

Chairman of Ophthalmology, Sourasky Medical Center, Vice Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversitySidney Fox Chair of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv University, President of the Israeli Ophthalmological Society; Associate Editor, The European Journal of Ophthalmology and of Ophthalmologica; Chief Editor, Journal Case Reports in Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv, Israel

Profile 

The Retinal Toxicity Expert

Beginning her career with four years as a medical officer at the Israeli Navy headquarters, Anat Loewenstein then carved out an impressive path into academia, becoming first a lecturer at the Tel Aviv university, and gradually working her way up to full professor and vice dean for 16 years at the faculty of medicine, Tel Aviv University. 

Loewenstein is perhaps best recognized as one of the leading forces behind the development of model technology used for the early detection of macular degeneration, as well as the coordinating investigator in the multicenter studies which helped prove the importance of this technology. She’s also been heavily invested in the research and development of automated technology for the detection of retinal disease activity, as well as looking at ways in which augmented virtual reality might be used to replace the traditional operating microscope. 

She has presented at hundreds of meetings as a guest professor, and published more than 460 papers in peer-reviewed journals. For many years, Loewenstein’s research has focused on investigating the toxicity of drugs to the retina. This research interest was initially sparked by a young girl, who came into Loewenstein’s hospital experiencing vision loss after being injected with a long-acting steroid; the team researched – and revealed – the extreme toxicity of the vehicle of this drug. Since that initial foray into drug toxicity, Loewenstein and her lab have gone on to prove that antiangiogenic agents are non-toxic to the retina and can be used to effectively treat patients. They have also been involved in the development of a device that enables slow release of drugs into the retina. During the early days of anti-VEGF agents, Loewenstein also played a part in proving that one of those early agents – bevacizumab – was not toxic to the retina, a finding (along with many others) that helped to shape the face of modern retinal therapy.

Loewenstein now spends her time between clinical work, academia, education and research. At Tel Aviv University, she prioritizes teaching and mentoring young ophthalmologists on retinal disease and their own career goals. For a variety of different international groups, including ARVO, she mentors other aspiring ophthalmologists. In terms of her latest research, Loewenstein is currently working on technology based on the same data collection methods found within pilots’ helmets that she believes will eventually replace the ocular microscope. She is also involved in developing technologies to support home monitoring of patients with AMD and the automated analysis of OCT images.

Regarded as one of the top retina specialists and surgeons worldwide, Anat Loewenstein’s place in The Ophthalmologist Power List Hall of Fame will come as no surprise.

Awards and Honors

1986 – Albert Soulka Price, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
1992 – Gothulf Award, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
1996 – RBCs in Diabetes, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
1996 – Fellowship Grant, Isabelle Zangvil Foundation
1999 – Perception in AMD, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
2000 – AChE in Retina, Wasserman Foundation, Tel Aviv, Israel
2000 – AChE in Retina, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
2002 – AChE in Retina, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
2002 – Research Fair, Replacing the Amsler, Tel Aviv University
2003 – fMRI in AMD, Macula Society
2004 – Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists
2006 – The Rosenthal Award, Macula Society
2006 – Senior Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists
2008 – Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
2009 – Honors Award, Pan-Hellenic Vetreoretina Society
2010 – The American Society of Retina Specialists Senior Honor Award for Outstanding Service to the Society Scientific and Educational Programs
2010 – Certificate of Appreciation, University of Louisville
2011 – Best Poster Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
2013 – The Rosenthal award
2015 – The Macula Society Arnall Patz Medal for outstanding contribution in studies of retinal and macular diseases
2016 – Macula of Paris Award
2017 – Michelson Award of the Macula Society
2017 – Silver Fellow Medal of ARVO
2020 – Health Initiative Finalist of the Reboot Forum
2023 – The Ophthalmologist Power List Hall of Fame