Professor Jugnoo Rahi awarded Bowman Medal at The Royal College of Ophthalmologists 2026 Congress

The award was presented at the RCOphth Annual Congress 2026, where Prof. Rahi also delivered the Bowman Lecture, titled “Deciphering childhood vision impairment: stories of population health discovery science.” Her invitation to deliver the lecture marks a significant milestone, reflecting the growing recognition of childhood vision and population health research within the field.

Prof. Rahi is a Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. Delivering the lecture on behalf of UCL’s Vision and Eyes Group, she highlighted research spanning ophthalmology, paediatrics and population health to improve understanding of childhood vision impairment.

The lecture explored how population health approaches can uncover the complex factors shaping childhood vision and emphasised the importance of incorporating patient experience to inform policy and practice.

The Vision and Eyes Group, led by Prof. Rahi, focuses on understanding childhood vision impairment and how eye health develops across the life course. Bringing together clinicians, epidemiologists, statisticians and other specialists, the group’s research explores how vision problems begin, how they affect people’s lives, and how care can be improved. Their work aims to inform clinical practice and policy, both in the UK and internationally.

The Bowman Medal is named in honour of William Bowman, widely regarded as the founder of modern ophthalmology in the United Kingdom, and recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the specialty.

Prof. Rahi said of the award:

“It is an honour to be awarded the Bowman Medal and be invited to deliver the Bowman Lecture, which commemorates the extraordinary surgeon scientist who we consider to be the founder of ophthalmology in the UK. I share this honour with the people who have made our population sciences – discovery science possible: my fantastic colleagues in our Vision and Eyes Group at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, my equally fantastic clinical colleagues in the UK paediatric ophthalmology community, and of course the incredible children, young people and their families who have generously participated in our research.”

She also shared her hopes that everyone in the eyes and vision world will accept her invitation to action: ‘Think Vision, Think Child’. This aims to ensure that there is always attention to babies, children and young people in eyes and vision services, policies and research.

This significant achievement reflects the impact of Prof. Rahi’s work in shaping clinical services, research priorities and policy in children’s eye health, both in the UK and internationally.