Our history

Fight for Sight as it exists today evolved through a merger of Fight for Sight and the British Eye Research Foundation in 2005. Here are some of the main events that have shaped the charity's history:

1965
Fight for Sight was founded by Professor Norman Ashton CBE. He was Director of Pathology at the Institute of Ophthalmology and a world leader in research into eye diseases.

1965
In the same year, the Prevention of Blindness Research Fund was established with funds raised by the Royal Eye Hospital League of Friends.

1973
The Royal Eye Hospital, Southwark, transferred to St Thomas' Hospital Group.

1976
The Royal Eye Hospital Ward opened at St Thomas' and the Southwark hospital ceased to admit patients.

1979
The Prevention of Blindness Research Fund changed its name to the Iris Fund for Prevention of Blindness.

1992
The Duke of York, Fight for Sight's Patron, opened the Institute of Ophthalmology's new premises in Bath Street, adjacent to Moorfields Eye Hospital.

1993
The Help a Child to See charity was amalgamated with the Iris Fund.

2004
The Iris Fund changed its name to the British Eye Research Foundation.

2005
Fight for Sight merged with the British Eye Research Foundation to create the largest national charity dedicated to funding eye research in the UK.

2007
All of the assets of the British Eye Trust were transferred to Fight for Sight.