Anna Horwitz

MD, PhD in Neuroscience

Specialist in Ophthalmology

Full CV (PDF)

Profile

I am a specialist in ophthalmology with a PhD in neuroscience. My research uses Danish health registries to study medication use, eye disease and systemic health. I also study the relationship between sensory brain responses and cognitive function.

Current Position

Since March 2025, I have worked as an external consultant and ophthalmologist on the FOREVER research project at the University of Copenhagen, assessing eye examinations in a population-based study. I took maternity leave from 1 October 2025 and resumed work on 1 July 2026.

Background

Education

M.D., Ph.D. in Neuroscience
Specialist in Ophthalmology

Education, academic positions and clinical experience

Education Details

  • January 2025: Specialist recognition in Ophthalmology, Danish Patient Safety Authority
  • 2017: PhD in Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen
  • 2010: MD, University of Copenhagen
  • 2007: BSc in Medicine, University of Copenhagen

Previous Academic Positions

  • January–July 2018: Postdoctoral Researcher
    • Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen
    • Research visit: Visual Attention Lab, Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • 2013–2016: PhD Fellow (degree awarded in 2017)
    • Graduate School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
    • Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology
    • Research visit: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
    • Center for Healthy Aging

Clinical Experience

  • 2017–2024: Specialist Training in Ophthalmology
    • Zealand University Hospital
    • Rigshospitalet (Glostrup)
    • Rigshospitalet (Blegdamsvej)
  • Clinical Fellow Positions
    • July 2012–July 2013: Introductory position in Public Health Medicine and Research Assistant, Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Copenhagen (Health2006 study)
    • July 2011–July 2012: Introductory position in Neurosurgery, Rigshospitalet
      • Spine Surgery at Spine Center
      • Cranial Surgery at Department of Neurosurgery

Research Focus

My research concerns how medicines and systemic disease affect patients, with a particular interest in eye health.

My interest in medicines began during medical school. My first article, published in 2009, examined patients' views of patient information leaflets and their influence on medication use.

Publications

22 journal publications and 7 published conference abstracts, updated 17 October 2026.

Selected Journal Publications

  1. Risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis After Initiation of Antiseizure Medication: A Danish Nationwide Cohort Study
    Heerfordt IM, Mogensen M, Horwitz A, Andersen JT, Gotfredsen DR, Gade C, Heerfordt CK, Olsen RH, Horwitz H
    Neurology, 2026, 107(3), e218355.
  2. Isotretinoin is not associated with elevated risk of pseudotumor cerebri: A Danish register-based cohort study
    Bastrup Israelsen S, Heerfordt IM, Mogensen M, Horwitz A, Yri HM, Olsen RH, Horwitz H
    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2026, 95(4), 1195–1197.
  3. Association between Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists and the Risk of Glaucoma in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes
    Niazi S, Gnesin F, Thein AS, Andreasen JR, Horwitz A, Mouhammad ZA, Jawad BN, Niazi Z, Pourhadi N, Zareini B, Meaidi A, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Ophthalmology, 2024, 131(9), 1056–1063.
  4. Inferring glaucoma status from prescriptions, diagnoses, and operations data: A Danish nationwide study
    Horwitz A, Klemp M, Rovelt J, Horwitz H, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    PLOS ONE, 2023, 18(12), e0292439.
  5. Antihypertensive Medication Postpones the Onset of Glaucoma: Evidence From a Nationwide Study
    Horwitz A, Klemp M, Jeppesen J, Tsai JC, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Hypertension, 2017, 69(2), 202–210.
  6. Patienters vurdering af medicinpakningernes indlægssedler
    Horwitz A, Reuther L, Andersen SE
    Ugeskrift for Læger, 2009, 171(8), 599–602.
Other Journal Publications
  1. Anabolic androgenic steroid use and risk of diabetes mellitus in males
    Esmann FVL, Heerfordt IM, Windfeld-Mathiasen J, Horwitz A, Dalhoff KP, Andersen JT, Middelboe M, Horwitz H
    Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2026, 28(2), 1076–1080.
  2. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis and Mortality: A Danish Cohort Study With 30 Years of Follow-Up
    Heerfordt IM, Middelboe M, Hærskjold A, Horwitz A, Olsen RH, Horwitz H
    The Journal of Dermatology, 2026, 53(1), 35–40.
  3. Risk of Central Serous Chorioretinopathy in Male Androgen Abusers
    Subhi Y, Windfeld-Mathiasen J, Horwitz A, Horwitz H
    Ophthalmology and Therapy, 2023, 12(2), 1073–1080.
  4. Drug-induced optic neuropathy
    Horwitz A, Horwitz H
    Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin, 2022, 334(1), 1295–1298.
  5. Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists - Potential Game Changers in the Treatment of Glaucoma?
    Mouhammad ZA, Vohra R, Horwitz A, Thein AS, Rovelt J, Cvenkel B, Williams PA, Azuara-Blanco A, Kolko M
    Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2022, 16, 824054.
  6. Male Fertility Before and After Androgen Abuse
    Windfeld-Mathiasen J, Dalhoff KP, Andersen JT, Klemp M, Horwitz A, Horwitz H
    The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2021, 106(2), 442–449.
  7. Betaxolol Ophthalmic Solution as Alternative Treatment for Patients with Timolol Allergy: A Case Report
    Müllertz O, Jacobsen J, Thyssen JP, Horwitz A, Kolko M
    Reports, 2020, 3(3), 21.
  8. Brain Responses to Passive Sensory Stimulation Correlate With Intelligence
    Horwitz A, Klemp M, Horwitz H, Thomsen MD, Rostrup E, Mortensen EL, Osler M, Lauritzen M, Benedek K
    Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 2019, 11, 201.
  9. EEG correlates of visual short-term memory in older age vary with adult lifespan cognitive development
    Wiegand I, Lauritzen MJ, Osler M, Mortensen EL, Rostrup E, Rask L, Richard N, Horwitz A, Benedek K, Vangkilde S, Petersen A
    Neurobiology of Aging, 2018, 62, 210–220.
  10. Passive Double-Sensory Evoked Coherence Correlates with Long-Term Memory Capacity
    Horwitz A, Mortensen EL, Osler M, Fagerlund B, Lauritzen M, Benedek K
    Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2017, 11, 598.
  11. The prognosis following amphetamine poisoning
    Horwitz H, Dalhoff KP, Klemp M, Horwitz A, Andersen JT, Jürgens G
    Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 2017, 45(8), 773–781.
  12. Visual steady state in relation to age and cognitive function
    Horwitz A, Dyhr Thomsen M, Wiegand I, Horwitz H, Klemp M, Nikolic M, Rask L, Lauritzen M, Benedek K
    PLOS ONE, 2017, 12(2), e0171859.
  13. Danish Nationwide Data Reveal a Link between Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Glaucoma
    Horwitz A, Petrovski BÉ, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Journal of Diabetes Research, 2016, 2016, 2684674.
  14. Screening for celiac disease in Danish adults
    Horwitz A, Skaaby T, Kårhus LL, Schwarz P, Jørgensen T, Rumessen JJ, Linneberg A
    Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2015, 50(7), 824–831.
  15. The Prevalence and Incidence of Glaucoma in Denmark in a Fifteen Year Period: A Nationwide Study
    Kolko M, Horwitz A, Thygesen J, Jeppesen J, Torp-Pedersen C
    PLOS ONE, 2015, 10(7), e0132048. Shared first authorship with Miriam Kolko.
  16. Politics and policies
    Horwitz A, Horwitz H
    Journal of Insurance Medicine, 2014, 44(1), 49–52.
Published Conference Abstracts
  1. Glaucoma and cardioprotective medication
    Horwitz A, Klemp M, Andreasen J, Horwitz H, Freiberg J, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Acta Ophthalmologica, 2022, 100(S275).
  2. Incidence and prevalence of glaucoma in native and immigrant groups living in Denmark
    Horwitz A, Klemp MPB, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Acta Ophthalmologica, 2018, 96(S261), 53.
  3. P380 Intelligence is predicted by single-vs-double-sensory brain responses
    Horwitz A, Klemp M, Horwitz H, Thomsen MD, Rostrup E, Mortensen EL, Osler M, Lauritzen M, Benedek K
    Clinical Neurophysiology, 2017, 128(9), e301.
  4. A link between diabetes mellitus and glaucoma — Danish Nationwide Study
    Horwitz A, Petrovski BÉ, Petrovski G, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Acta Ophthalmologica, 2016, 94(S256).
  5. Risk of glaucoma and treatment with systemic antihypertensive treatment – A nationwide study
    Horwitz A, Jeppesen J, Torp-Pedersen C, Kolko M
    Acta Ophthalmologica, 2015, 93(S255).
  6. The prevalence and incidence of glaucoma in Denmark in a fifteen year period: A nationwide study
    Kolko M, Horwitz A, Thygesen J, Jeppesen J, Torp-Pedersen C
    Acta Ophthalmologica, 2015, 93(S255).
  7. YIA5: Predictor of severity and long distance outcome of patients with critical illness myopathy and polyneuropathy
    Jelinek A, Horwitz A, Piilgaard H, Lauritzen M, Benedek K
    Clinical Neurophysiology, 2014, 125(Supplement 1), S25.
Science Communication
  1. Omkring 100.000 anvender medicin mod grøn stær – det er dobbelt så mange som forventet
    Miriam Kolko, Anna Horwitz
    Værn om Synet, 2015.

Research Presentations

I have presented my research at international and national conferences, including:

The presentations cover my research in ophthalmology, neuroscience and epidemiology.

Contact & Professional Profiles

For further information, collaborative inquiries, or any questions about my work, please reach out:

Email: anna.horwitz@protonmail.com

Professional Profiles: