Professor John Barbur honoured with Acta Medal at EVER Congress • City St George's, University of London

City St George’s academics shine at European Vision and Eye Research event

By Mr George Wigmore (Senior Communications Officer), Published Monday, 18^th November 2024

Professor John Barbur, Professor of Optics & Visual Science at City St George’s, University of London, was awarded the prestigious EVER Acta Medal in recognition of his groundbreaking, eye-related research at the recent 27th European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) Congress in Valencia, Spain.

The EVER Congress is the largest and most diverse ophthalmological meeting in Europe, drawing experts from across clinical and scientific disciplines to share the latest advancements in eye research. The award was the highlight of a successful Congress for the University, with several other researchers from City St George’s also presenting their work in a range of sessions and symposia.

Professor Barbur’s award-winning lecture

Besides being awarded the Acta Medal, Professor Barbur also delivered the accompanying Acta-EVERHonorary Lecture 2024. Titled “Methods for Early Detection of Selective Loss of Visual Function in Diseases of the Retina”, the lecture highlighted innovative approaches to identifying early signs of retinal disease. In addition, the lecture focused on the visual consequences of disease-related, abnormal interactions between rod and cone photoreceptors in the eye. This research is key to detecting diseases that selectively impair visual function without affecting other photoreceptor-based responses, such as pupil reactions and circadian rhythms.

Professor John Barbur (left) receives the prestigious EVER Acta Medal

The Acta Medal, given jointly by EVER and Acta Ophthalmologica, is one of the most esteemed awards in the field of clinical ophthalmology and vision science. Past recipients include prominent figures in ophthalmology from across Europe and beyond, underscoring the global impact of Professor Barbur’s work.

Speaking about Congress and the award, Professor Barbur said:

“It’s an honour to receive this medal. The EVER organisation supports very effectively clinical eye research and basic science. Translational research is important since it brings together optometrists, orthoptists, ophthalmology clinicians, neurologists, doctors with an interest in vision standards within visually demanding occupations and vision scientists. As someone trained in Physics and Optics, I feel greatly honoured and privileged to have been invited to give the EVER Acta lecture this year. I would like to dedicate this lecture to the many clinical colleagues who showed interest and supported our research studies over decades. A big thank you to them all.”

Outstanding contributions from the City St George’s team

City St George’s had an impressive presence at the event. Aiman Hafeez, a doctoral researcher, won the award for the best ‘rapid-fire’ presentation, showcasing the calibre of emerging talent from the University. The institution also presented work from researchers Dr Benjamin Evans, Sajni Bohra, Dr Miriam Conway and Dr Marisa Rodriguez-Carmona. Each offered insights into various aspects of vision science, such as occupational vision and retinal health, reinforcing the University’s reputation as a leader in eye research.

The team also organised a Special Interest Symposium on advances in occupational vision requirements. This session attracted a decent audience and facilitated discussions on the unique visual demands in occupations like aviation, healthcare and railways, where vision accuracy is critical. Topics ranged from the impact of lighting conditions to assessments for colour vision standards in high-stakes professions.

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