Fourth consecutive victory for UWE Bristol students in national optometry competition

UWE Bristol optometry students have won a national optometry competition for the fourth year in a row.

A team of undergraduates from the university were the overall winners of Optoversity Challenge 2026.

The challenge, which raises money for Vision Care for Homeless People, is the only inter-university competition between optometry students in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

In all, 83 optometry students from 13 universities took part in the competition last month as it marked its 10^th year.

Of the 16 UWE Bristol optometry students taking part, eight first and second year students competed in an online competition. A further eight third year undergraduates participated in an in-person event in Thornbury. They formed two teams of four – the UWE Eyeconic Warriors and UWE Iris-Istables.

Across both the online contest and in-person event, students were challenged through clinically focused scenarios designed to reflect real-world optometric practice. Optoversity Challange is a light-hearted, fun event which tests students on various aspects of optometry and challenges them to raise funds towards the running of Vision Care for Homeless People’s clinics.

Among the individual successes for UWE Bristol students were gold awards for Aniqa Akhter and Jessica Noyce. Helen Hawkins received a silver prize in the fundraising challenge by raising £511 for Vision Care.

Altogether the event raised over £9,000 for Vision Care, bringing the total funds raised over the past decade to more than £62,000 through student fundraising, sponsorship and donations. These vital funds help Vision Care champion the right to sight for people affected by homelessness, supporting the direct delivery of eye care services through the charity’s clinics.

The challenge forms part of Vision Care’s wider strategic focus on education, supporting the development of a future workforce equipped to deliver inclusive and adaptable care. Participants in Optoversity Challenge are encouraged to consider both the clinical and non-clinical complexities of treating people experiencing homelessness, including communication, trust-building and adapting standard approaches to meet the needs of underserved populations.

Krishna Ravikumar, a senior lecturer in optometry at UWE Bristol, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our students for securing a fourth consecutive win at the Optoversity Challenge. Their enthusiasm, clinical ability and commitment to supporting Vision Care for Homeless People shone throughout both the online and in‑person events.

“This achievement reflects not only their hard work but also the collaborative, compassionate spirit that defines our optometry community at UWE Bristol.”

Gajan Singh, from Out of the Box Optics, which hosts the competition, said: “The Out of the Box team are delighted with the success of this year’s event. Volunteers worked incredibly hard to ensure everything ran smoothly, while students gained valuable clinical experience, networking opportunities and insight into the profession.”