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Our successes

We are the main UK charity funding cutting-edge science to bring about new treatments to transform the lives of people affected by sight loss.

We take on the big challenges in eye research, funding the early stage research that leads to big breakthroughs.

We’re proud that so much of the outstanding research we fund, led by experts in their field, has led to breakthroughs that have a made a difference for the people we are here to support.

Here are some of the successes achieved by Fight for Sight funded researchers:

Our founder’s discovery saved the sight of premature babies
In 1953 Ashton discovered that excessive oxygen given to compensate for breathing problems associated with premature birth can cause blindness. His team's observations led to the careful control of oxygen delivery to premature infants and saved the sight of many babies. Subsequent work supported by Fight for Sight has helped to develop techniques to salvage vision in premature babies with sight-threatening retinopathy. 
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Pioneering study identifies effective laser treatment for glaucoma
A UCL study that was part funded by Fight for Sight has successfully analysed the effectiveness of a laser-based treatment for glaucoma compared with eye drops. The results could potentially improve the way glaucoma is treated across the world.


World first gene therapy restoring sight using 'stealth virus'
Fight for Sight funded vital early stage research at Imperial College which has led to the development of a new gene therapy treatment for choroideremia that is already halting the disease and even restoring sight for some patients at clinical trial.
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Researchers successfully demonstrate gene therapy for glaucoma in the lab
A Fight for Sight funded researcher from the University of Bristol, Dr Colin Chu, has used gene editing techniques to successfully demonstrate a gene therapy for glaucoma in the lab.
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Genetic technique helps patients see light for first time in decades
A professor at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology has pioneered a new genetic technique that successfully restored the sight of ten patients with the most common form of childhood-inherited blindness in a clinical trial.
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A smartphone app doubles Kenyan children getting eye treatment
Research led by Dr Andrew Bastawrous from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has paved the way for the development of a smart phone eye testing app called Peek, doubling the number of Kenyan children receiving eye treatment.
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AI identifies drugs to reduce sight loss from macular degeneration
The initial results from an artificial intelligence project show a number of existing drugs have the potential to reduce sight loss from age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss.
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Research identifies new genes in age-related macular degeneration
Fight for Sight funded research in January 2019 has identified new genes linked to the development of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the UK.
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New test detects early signs of macular disease
Fight for Sight funded research has resulted in the development of a new eye test to spot the first stages of sight loss in age-related macular degeneration.
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A new way to predict who will develop glaucoma
The results from a Fight for Sight funded study could pave the way for a genetic-based screening program for glaucoma.
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