Humanitarian Service Award
Purpose & Background
The ESCRS Humanitarian Award recognises outstanding humanitarian contributions in ophthalmology that improve access to eye care for underserved communities worldwide.
The recipient will be named the ESCRS Humanitarian Laureate and will receive a charitable grant of up to €100,000 to support their ongoing work.
This annual award celebrates sustained, high-impact initiatives in cataract and refractive surgery, including service delivery, clinician training, infrastructure and programme development, community education, and innovative outreach models.
The Award prioritises work that measurably benefits low-income or underserved populations, with particular consideration given to initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Laureate will be honoured at the ESCRS Annual Congress and invited to deliver a Humanitarian Lecture.
Key Dates
Nominations open December 15th 2025 and close February 21st 2026.
The Laureate will be announced in spring/summer 2026 and recognised at the ESCRS Annual Congress in September 2026 (London).