National resources key to the mission
Strengthening its own mission, the EyeSight Foundation of Alabama collaborates with Research to Prevent Blindness, the leading nonprofit organization supporting eye research directed at the prevention, treatment or eradication of all diseases that threaten vision.
This partnership, along with private donors Susan and Dowd Ritter, resulted in the establishment the $3.75 million Research to Prevent Blindness/Susan and Dowd Ritter Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Research, one of the largest endowed chairs in the history of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology.
The endowment enabled the department to recruit a world-class scientist to join its existing roster of international experts in the study of blinding diseases.
RPB has committed hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to support high-impact vision research. As a result, RPB-supported researchers have been associated with nearly every major breakthrough in the understanding and treatment of vision loss over the past 50-plus years.
ESFA recommends you visit RPB’s list of national resources for comprehensive information on eye health-related issues.
There are many other outstanding organizations across the U.S. devoted to various eye health issues. Several great starting places are listed below and their websites will connect you with many more resources.
The National Eye Institute
As part of the federal government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Eye Institute’s (NEI) mission is to conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind. Explore and learn more about common eye conditions and diseases, ways to keep your vision healthy, and more at: https://nei.nih.gov/
Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness (PB) has become the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year by providing information, resources and technical assistance; influencing public policy; and helping shape public health systems of care. ESFA and PB have partnered in various efforts to improve access to eye care over the years and ESFA’s Executive Director has served on its Board of Directors and is the current Board Chair. Check out PB’s resources at: https://www.preventblindness.org/