Dr. Emma Duignan

Dr Emma Duignan is a leading Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon based in Dublin, with extensive expertise in medical retina and ocular genetics. She currently holds consultant appointments at Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and Medical Optics, where she also serves as a Director. She earned her medical degree (MB) and a Research Doctorate (MD) from Trinity College Dublin, with doctoral research focusing on inherited retinal degenerations. She subsequently completed advanced fellowship training in medical retina and inherited retinal disease, developing specialist expertise in diagnosing and managing complex genetic eye disorders.

Dr Duignan is at the forefront of ophthalmic innovation in Ireland and was a member of the multidisciplinary team that delivered the country's first treatment with Luxturna in October 2025. This achievement represented a major advance in the treatment of inherited retinal disease in Ireland, offering eligible patients access to sight-preserving gene therapy that had previously been unavailable within the country.

Beyond her surgical and clinical practice, Dr Duignan is widely recognised for her expertise in inherited retinal disease, myopia, and the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on children's eye health. She is actively involved in the Target 5000 project, working to genetically characterise inherited retinal diseases, improve diagnostic accuracy, and expand patient access to emerging gene-based and other novel therapies through research and precision medicine initiatives.