Six leading eyecare-focused organizations across the United States are collaborating to launch a national grassroots and educational campaign advocating against the consolidation of the National Eye Institute (NEI) into a broader federal institute.
Back up a moment on this—tell me about this consolidation plan.
In June 2024, the House Appropriations Committee released the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LLHS) appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2025 that included a proposal to completely restructure the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as a nearly $50 billion cut in NIH’s public health and biomedical research programs.
- Specifically: The plan proposed the consolidation of 27 institutes and centers into just 15.
And in regards to the NEI: The institute would be consolidated with two other institutes—the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)—to form the National Institute of Neuroscience and Brain Research.
And what was the initial response to this proposal?
Backlash, to say the least—from numerous health policy, institutes, research, and advocacy groups.
In a letter to the committee last year, American Optometric Association (AOA) requested such consolidation language be removed entirely from the bill and requested a meeting to discuss the proposal’s potential to have “serious negative impacts.”
- AOA Council on Research Chair Heather Anderson, OD, PhD, also noted that any proposal to combine the NEI with other institutes and centers would inevitably dilute resources currently supporting vision research and likely jeopardize significant innovations driven by vision scientists.
How about on the ophthalmic side?
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAOphth) also expressed strong opposition to the consolidation, joining the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in publishing a joint letter in October 2024 voicing opposition to the suggestion.
Meanwhile, the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR) noted the NEI’s crucial role in advancing treatments for severe vision disorders in its 50+ years of existence.
“Its focus on vision science has facilitated groundbreaking discoveries, many of which have translated into life-changing therapies for millions of Americans,” the organization stated.
- Check out its key concerns and reasons to oppose the consolidation—as well as recommendations for maintaining the NEI’s independence.
Fast forward to this year—what’s the latest on this proposal?
Opposition has only continued, with the NAEVR joining over 100 vision institutions, organizations, eye banks, foundations, and other entities in penning a letter to House committee leaders in May 2025.
Their request: To “maintain vision as a priority” by:
- Ensuring the NEI remains an independent institute within the NIH
- Rejecting a blanket 15% indirect rate cap proposal on NIH grants
- Including $1 billion in its FY2026 budget for the NEI to continue its vision research
“The NEI’s entire FY25 budget—$896.55 million—represents just 0.45% of the economic burden of vision disorders,” the letter stated. “Increasing that investment to $1 billion in FY26 is a cost-effective and life-changing step that represents a smart investment in our future.”
Now to this new collaboration.
Those six leading organizations in the vision space—the AAO; AAOphth; NAEVR and AEVR; ARVO; and the Association of University Professor of Ophthalmology (AUPO)—have launched the #SeeWhatMatters campaign.
Intended as a “national call to protect vision research and the future of sight,” its purpose is three-fold:
- Elevate the nation’s federally-funded vision research
- Reinforce the critical need for NEI independence
- Demonstrate the human impact of vision research discoveries
Tell me more about the campaign.
The initiative is a dual educational and grassroots advocacy effort with a digital interface that offers, among other features, a look at how the NEI-supported vision research impacts the future of vision loss.
Such diseases highlighted include: diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, myopia, and inherited retinal diseases (IRDs).
- See here for more details.
And who is the target audience?
Stakeholders such as patients, researchers, clinicians, industry, and advocates—all encouraged to speak up on “why vision research matters to every American,” according to the organizers.
Check out these examples on how the NEI has impacted the vision research industry.
Now to this call to action.
Organizers are calling on members of the eyecare community to speak up and join their movement.
A few ways to do this:
- Reaching out to Congress
- Downloading a #SeeWhatMatters toolkit (includes social media copy, impact statements, creative assets, and printable handouts)
“Defending and strengthening the NEI is not only about protecting research – it’s about safeguarding the vision health and independence of millions of Americans,” stated Trish Shomion, AAO CEO.
Per the organizers: “We invite the entire vision research and eye care community to stand with us.”