What we do

Since 1965 Fight for Sight has raised funds to support medical research into a wide-range of eye conditions. These include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy as well as the causes of childhood blindness. Fight for Sight also funds research into a large number of rare eye diseases. The charity is the largest in the UK dedicated to funding eye research.

Researchers that are funded are based at academic institutions and hospitals across the UK and may be conducting research either in the UK or overseas.  Each year Fight for Sight invites applications for research grants.  These can be for up to 5 years.  The charity receives around 90 applications a year and is able to fund 15-20% of these applications.  In order to decide which applications to fund, Fight for Sight undertakes a rigorous process of peer review and applications are assessed by the charity’s own scientific panel and also by international leaders in the relevant fields.  This helps ensure that the research that is funded is of the highest standard and ensures that applications are assessed in the context of other research being undertaken worldwide.

Fight for Sight receives no government or statutory funding and is therefore dependent on voluntary donations.  We actively raise money from a variety of sources including grant-making trusts and companies.  Fundraising in the community is organised through a combination of local fundraising committees and volunteers.  A valuable contribution is made by a large number of individuals who support us with donations, who undertake sponsored events on our behalf and by those who remember the charity in their wills.