Dr. Bowers is a clinician scientist whose primary focus is vision rehabilitation research. She has made significant contributions to the field as an optometrist in the United Kingdom, as well as an educator and researcher—first at Glasgow Caledonian University and now at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass. Eye and Ear. Her achievements were recognized in 2010 when she was awarded the Borish Outstanding Young Researcher Award from the American Academy of Optometry.

In 2013, Dr. Bowers received the prestigious Envision Low Vision Research Award. In 2015, Dr. Bowers became a Research Diplomate of the Vision Science Section of the American Academy of Optometry and in 2022, Dr. Bowers became a Silver Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

In 2023, Dr. Bowers was the recipient of the Glenn A. Fry Lecture Award from the American Academy of Optometry recognizing her outstanding contributions to research in optometry and vision science. Currently, Dr. Bowers devotes most of her time to research, which includes the supervision and mentoring of trainees within the research environment.