A report outlining patients’ priorities for eye research was launched at a reception at the House of Lords on 9 October, the eve of World Sight Day.

The information was gathered by asking patients and eye health profesionals about their priorities for eye research - and will help ensure that future research programmes funded by charities and organisations across the UK can be targeted according to the prioritised needs of people living with sight loss, their relatives, carers and eye health professionals.

The project - called the Sight Loss and Vision Priority Setting Partnership - was supported by Fight for Sight, the College of Optometrists, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, RNIB, the UK Vision Strategy and Vision 2020. It was overseen by the James Lind Alliance.

Representatives of the partners commented on the priority setting report:

Kamlesh Chauhan, Chair of the College of Optometrists said: “I am delighted that the College has been able to support this important project. For research to have the right impact, the views of those that it affects must be heard and it is refreshing that we have consulted with patients, carers and clinicians alike to help focus our efforts in the right direction”.

Michele Acton, Chief Executive of Fight for Sight said: “Medical research in the UK is largely reactive. With limited resources available, it is crucial that those closest to eye conditions have their say in prioritising medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. For the first time, the Sight Loss and Vision Survey has allowed patients, relatives, carers and eye health professionals to do just that.”

Kathy Evans, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists said: ”This has given us an excellent picture of the eye research landscape in the UK. I’m proud that the Royal College of Ophthalmologists has been part of something so ground breaking for eye research. It is vital that patients and clinicians should be involved in saying what they want and yet this is the first time an exercise like this has been done in the vision sector. We will be working closely with our partners to make sure these priorities are met.”

Anita Lightstone, Interim Chief Operations Officer for VISION 2020 UK and Programme Director of the UK Vision Strategy said: "This project is one of the first of its kind to ensure that both the public and clinicians have a say on what they think are the most important areas for research to focus on. We hope that existing research funders from a range of sectors will take note of this and will use these research priorities to support their funding decisions".

Tina Roberts whose daughter Rose, nine, was diagnosed with Stargardt Macular Dystrophy, an inherited condition, two years ago took part in the Inherited Eye Coniditions workshop. Rose, who has since lost her central vision and can only see objects close up, has helped to raise vital funds for research into the condition. Tina who attended the reception with her daughter said: “When we first received the news of Rose we were of course devastated at the thought of her losing her sight. We can’t fault the professional care that we have received – however we are still a long way off finding the cure. That’s why it’s so important for more research to be carried out to help prevent others losing their sight.”

Alistair Fielder, Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at City University, London and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist at St Mary’s and Hillingdon Hospitals, London who was involved with the project giving views as an eye health professional said: “To date the research undertaken has been what is thought to be important by researchers and universities so, it was great to sit down with patients and tease out what research is needed to actually help people. At last a real team effort with the patient having a say in the research for the future.”

Download the report from http://fightforsight.org.uk/sightlosspsp