Esmeralda Lotham
Pacific public health researcher and PhD candidate in the University of Auckland's Department of Ophthalmology, who underwent a corneal transplant and researches keratoconus prevalence and eye-health screening in Pacific communities.
Best podcasts with Esmeralda Lotham
Ranked by the Snipd community
Mar 16, 2026 • 17min
How going blind helped highlight a gap in Pacific eye health
Esmeralda Lotham, a Pacific public-health researcher and PhD candidate who had a corneal transplant, recounts her journey from keratoconus diagnosis to research. She talks about late detection, recovery and how personal experience shaped her focus. She outlines screening programmes in schools and communities, barriers to preventive eye care, simple home checks and the importance of corneal donation.
