ESCRS Celebrates First-Ever Humanitarian Awards Recipients at the London Congress 2026

The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) proudly presented its first-ever Humanitarian Awards at the ESCRS Congress in London, recognising two individuals whose dedication to expanding access to eye care has transformed lives in underserved communities around the world. The introduction of the awards marks a significant milestone in the Society's commitment to supporting humanitarian excellence within ophthalmology.

For the first time, ESCRS presented two distinct honours: the ESCRS Humanitarian Award and the ESCRS Chang Humanitarian Award. The awards recognise outstanding contributions to humanitarian eye care and are each accompanied by a €100,000 grant for a charity of their choice, providing meaningful support to help recipients continue and expand their vital work.

The inaugural ESCRS Humanitarian Award recognising sustained and long-term humanitarian service, was presented to Carlos Luis Moser Wurth, and the ESCRS Chang Humanitarian Award celebrating exceptional humanitarian impact achieved over a shorter period, to Esther Ciancas Fuentes. Together, the recipients represent the compassion, leadership and commitment that are helping to improve access to sight-saving treatment for communities most in need.

The ESCRS Chang Humanitarian Award was made possible through generous philanthropic support from David and Victoria Chang, helping to establish a lasting legacy that will continue to recognise and support humanitarian excellence in ophthalmology for years to come.

The launch of the Humanitarian Awards reflects ESCRS's belief that advancing eye care extends beyond scientific and clinical excellence. By recognising individuals who have dedicated themselves to tackling avoidable blindness and improving access to treatment worldwide, the Society hopes to inspire further humanitarian action across the global ophthalmic community.

As the first recipients of these prestigious new honours, Carlos Luis Moser Wurth and Esther Ciancas Fuentes embody the spirit of service and global impact that the ESCRS Humanitarian Awards were created to celebrate.