Key Takeaways
- Ophthalmic surgeon Sheraz Daya, MD, was awarded the 2026 Life Achievement Honor Award by the AAO for his contribution to eye care.
- The honor is awarded to ophthalmologists who have demonstrated sustained commitment to the profession through education, leadership, committee service, and participation in the AAO.
- Dr. Daya’s is the founder of Centre for Sight, a specialist eye care organization based in the United Kingdom.
Centre for Sight Founder and Medical Director Sheraz M. Daya, MD, FACP, FACS, FRCS(Ed), FRCOphth, was awarded the 2026 Life Achievement Honor Award by the AAO in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of eye care and the lives of patients.
The accolade is awarded to ophthalmologists who have demonstrated sustained commitment to the profession through education, leadership, committee service, and participation in the AAO. For Dr. Daya, the honor coincides with Centre for Sight’s 30th anniversary. Since its founding in 1996, the specialist eye care organization has been internationally recognized for its work in advanced cataract surgery, laser vision correction, corneal transplantation, and complex ophthalmic treatment.
Dr. Daya’s career has combined clinical practice with research, innovation and education. He introduced LASIK in the United Kingdom in 1994 and has performed more than 30,000 cataract procedures throughout his career. After training and practicing in the United States, he returned to the United Kingdom to lead the Corneoplastic Unit and Eye Bank at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead. His work in corneal and stem cell treatments includes helping to restore the sight of acid attack survivor Katie Piper.
“To receive this recognition from the AAO is an enormous honor, particularly because the academy has played such an important role throughout my professional life. Ophthalmology has changed beyond recognition during my career, but the purpose of our work remains the same: to improve the quality of people’s lives through better vision,” Dr. Daya said. “I have been fortunate to work alongside extraordinary colleagues, researchers, and surgeons across the world. Innovation is never the achievement of one person alone, and I see this award as recognition of the shared commitment to advancing treatment, challenging established thinking, and achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.”
Over three decades, Centre for Sight has continued to invest in new technologies, research, and tailored patient care, bringing together specialist teams across its locations in East Grinstead, Surrey, and London. The organization’s focus remains on combining surgical advances with rigorous clinical standards and personalized treatment.
“As Centre for Sight marks its 30th anniversary, this award is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how far eye care has progressed … it is also a reminder of how much more we can achieve through research, collaboration, and a relentless focus on patients,” Dr. Daya said.
