Fight for sight Review

About Fight for sight

Fight for Sight: Pioneering Research to Stop Sight Loss

Fight for Sight is a UK-based charity that has been at the forefront of pioneering research to prevent and cure sight loss since 1965. The organization's mission is to create a future where everyone can see, and it achieves this by funding cutting-edge research projects that aim to understand the causes of eye diseases, develop new treatments, and improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments.

The charity's work is more important than ever before as sight loss continues to be a major public health issue worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 253 million people live with vision impairment globally, with 36 million being blind. In the UK alone, over two million people are living with sight loss, and this number is expected to double by 2050 due to an ageing population.

Fight for Sight recognizes that there are many different types of eye diseases that can cause vision impairment or blindness. These include age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and many others. Each condition requires specific research efforts tailored towards understanding its underlying mechanisms and developing effective treatments.

To achieve its goals Fight for Sight works closely with leading researchers in universities and hospitals across the UK who are working on innovative projects aimed at preventing or curing eye diseases. The charity funds these projects through various channels such as grants from trusts or foundations or direct donations from individuals who want to support their work.

One example of Fight for Sight's groundbreaking research was a project led by Professor Andrew Lotery at Southampton University which aimed at developing gene therapy treatment for RP - an inherited disease that causes progressive vision loss leading eventually blindness in some cases. The project was successful in demonstrating proof-of-concept gene therapy treatment in animal models which could pave the way towards clinical trials in humans.

Another example was a study led by Dr Denize Atan at Bristol Eye Hospital which investigated whether vitamin B3 supplements could help prevent glaucoma - one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The study found promising results suggesting that vitamin B3 may protect against nerve damage caused by glaucoma but further clinical trials are needed before it can be recommended as a treatment option.

These examples demonstrate how Fight for Sight's funding has helped advance our understanding of eye diseases significantly over recent years but there is still much more work needed if we want to stop sight loss altogether.

In addition to funding research projects directly related to specific conditions like RP or glaucoma Fight For Sight also supports broader initiatives aimed at improving our knowledge about how eyes function normally so we can better understand what goes wrong when they don't function properly. This includes supporting studies into areas such as ocular genetics, stem cell biology, neuro-ophthalmology among others.

The charity also runs several awareness campaigns throughout the year aimed at educating people about common eye conditions such as AMD or cataracts so they can recognize symptoms early on seek medical attention promptly if necessary - early diagnosis often means better outcomes when it comes treating these conditions effectively.

Overall Fight For Sight plays an essential role in advancing our knowledge about how eyes function normally and what goes wrong when they don't function properly; their pioneering research aims not only help those living with visual impairments today but also create hope for future generations who may never have experience sight loss again thanks advances made possible through their work!