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Our Impact

Our funding helps put change in sight.

Please scroll down for examples of stories showcasing the difference the scientific research and social change we're funding makes.

Our Grants Assessment Panels approve all the grants we award, ensuring the funding we award delivers the most significant impact, from ensuring refuges for people escaping domestic abuse are accessible for blind and vision impaired people to funding the next generation of eye researchers. 

A group of young people with vision impairment on a farm visit, funded by Fight for Sight. They are standing around a counter and preparing food.

How do we deliver impact?

Fight for Sight is a funder. Specifically, we fund brilliant minds and bright ideas putting change in sight for people living with vision loss. 

Sounds grand, doesn't it, but what does it mean?

Scientific research impact 

We fund research to better understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat vision loss. That includes funding early-stage research with small grants, which enables researchers to unlock future funding. 

A picture of Prof. Robert Maclaren sitting in his office. Robert wears purple trousers and a grey suit jacket - he is smiling for the camera.

If we can start a clinical study funded by Fight for Sight, where we can show some benefits, we know we can leverage significant funding using good preliminary data. 

Professor Robert MacLaren
Meet Prof. MacLaren

Delivering social change impact

We're also funding bright ideas throughout the UK that are changing lives for people who are blind and vision impaired. For example, Metro Sport supports people in engaging in sporting activities. 

The video below features Metro Sport and Professor Robert Maclaren and many of the people benefitting from our work. 

A photo of ocular coloboma, where the pupil of a brown-eyed girl is shown to spread across the iris of the eye due to a 'hole' in the iris.
Social change
The power of togetherness: combating extreme isolation when faced with a rare diagnosis
The power of togetherness: combating extreme isolation when faced with a rare diagnosis
A group of Sutton Vision members smiling in the sunshine on an excursion at Hampton Court Palace
Social change
How we’re funding a 'network of friends' in Sutton
How we’re funding a 'network of friends' in Sutton
Dr Jasmina Kapetanovic in a laboratory using a pipette
Research
Optogenetics research: lighting the way to Save Sight. Change Lives.
Optogenetics research: lighting the way to Save Sight. Change Lives.
Social change
Extant's No Dramas workshops: Improvising to tackle loneliness and isolation
Extant's No Dramas workshops: Improvising to tackle loneliness and isolation
Close up photo of a researcher placing test tubes into a holder
Research
A deeper understanding of glaucoma
A deeper understanding of glaucoma
A large group of young adults all wearing yellow hoodies are posing on a sandy beach in front of a row of colourful beach huts. Some of the people have their arms around each other's shoulders, some are kneeling on the sand. They are all looking very happy
Social change
How Usher Kids UK is bringing isolated families together
How Usher Kids UK is bringing isolated families together
DNA Strand on Fight for Sight and Retina UK funded researchers identify new cause of inherited eye condition – retinitis pigmentosa
Research
Revealing the genetics of ocular coloboma
Revealing the genetics of ocular coloboma
A young boy is having his eyes tested, across from him and looking through an OCT scanner is a ophthalmologist wearing a mask
Social change
“You can go your whole life without meeting someone with the same condition.”
“You can go your whole life without meeting someone with the same condition.”
Heping Xu in the Lab working alongside a fellow researcher.
Research
Revealing the biology of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Revealing the biology of Age-related Macular Degeneration
A person looking down with a sombre background, with the words '#The Unseen' covering her eyes
Social change
How a ground-breaking report inspired an audio drama
‘The Unseen’: How a ground-breaking report inspired an audio drama
Extreme close up of the iris
Research
Developing a cell therapy for uveitis
Developing a cell therapy for uveitis
Social change
More than just a walk in the park
MyVision Oxfordshire's Green Walks are more than just a walk in the park
Brightly coloured section of genetic code
Research
Decoding the genetics of inherited retinal diseases
Decoding the genetics of inherited retinal diseases
A black woman with a headscarf looks downwards while leaning against a wall, her face is obscured by the words The Unseen
Social change
Behind the scenes of Unseen, a gripping new audio drama
Behind the scenes of Unseen, a gripping new audio drama
An old style television set sitting in front of some 'vintage' wallpaper to denote 'old-fashioned but simple solutions' The research this reflects is about watching television at home to test eye tracking for people living with glaucoma.
Research
Tracking eye movements for people with glaucoma by watching TV
Tracking eye movements for people with glaucoma by watching TV
Two young people visiting a farm, they are each holding a chicken in their arms
Social change
Farm visits for young people are enriching lives and creating community
Farm visits for young people are enriching lives and creating community
Social change
Improving safety for blind and vision impaired people experiencing domestic violence
Improving safety for blind and vision impaired people experiencing domestic violence

Research we've commissioned:

  • Outside - Insight Report

    Research revealing people who are blind and vision impaired are three times more likely to experience loneliness and isolation.

    Outside - Insight Report
  • The Unseen - Insight Report

    The Unseen was the first ever research into the shocking scale and nature of domestic abuse among blind and vision impaired people.

    The Unseen - Insight Report
  • See My Skills - Insight Report

    A roadmap to ensure that everyone, sighted or blind, has the chance to enjoy the independence, purpose and meaning that employment can bring.

    See My Skills - Insight Report
  • Watch our impact video
  • Stories of impact