Sir William Bowman (1816-1892), renowned English ophthalmologist, was a surgeon at the Royal Ophthalmic Hospital in London, forerunner to Moorfields Eye Hospital, from 1846 to 1876. He revolutionized the histology of the eye and discovered the anterior elastic lamina of the cornea (Bowman membrane). He described a number of new surgical procedures for ptosis, lacrimal disorders, and formation of an artificial pupil. He also invented his lacrimal probes, which are still in use.