Research Funding

The Academy believes strongly in evidence-based medicine and the continued advancement of clinical research. We support robust federal investment in the National Institutes of Health, the National Eye Institute, and the Department of Defense Vision Research Program.

Federal investment in vision research is not a luxury — it is essential infrastructure for preventing blindness, reducing the economic burden of vision loss, and protecting the sight of the military personnel who serve our country.

In collaboration with the Alliance of Vision Research , the Academy actively advocates for federal vision research funding. Each year, the Academy works to increase federal appropriations for the NIH, NEI, and the DoD Vision Research Program — through formal statements to Congress, coalition sign-on letters, direct meetings with appropriators and congressional staff, and mobilization of member advocates.

In FY2026, the Academy joined a coalition of more than 100 organizations in urging Congress to reject the proposed consolidation of the NEI, oppose a proposed 15% cap on NIH indirect costs, and increase NEI funding to $1 billion to match growing public health needs.

On the DoD side, the Academy has advocated for the full restoration of funding for the Vision Research Program after it was eliminated entirely in FY2025. The program was partially restored at $10 million in FY2026 — a step in the right direction, but well below the $20 million annually provided from FY2019 through FY2024. 

Participate in advocacy days

The Academy's Mid-Year Forum includes Congressional Advocacy Day, where members meet directly with legislators and staff to make the case for vision research funding.

Invite lawmakers to your institution

Tours of ophthalmology labs and clinics are among the most effective advocacy tools available. Get help with coordinating a congressional visit.

The National Eye Institute has been at the forefront of transformative scientific breakthroughs for more than 50 years — advancing therapies for diabetic eye disease, pioneering treatments for age-related macular degeneration, supporting the science that partly enabled the first FDA-authorized autonomous AI diagnostic system in medicine (IDx-DR, for diabetic retinopathy screening), and delivering the first FDA-approved gene therapy targeting an inherited disease (Luxturna). NEI-supported research continues to reveal the critical connection between eye health and overall health: through cutting-edge imaging and AI, researchers can now help predict stroke and cardiovascular risk, as well as detect early markers of systemic and neurologic diseases.

The NEI's current annual budget is approximately $896 million — flat since 2023 and not keeping pace with inflation or the growing burden of age-related vision disorders. The vision community, including the Academy, is urging Congress to increase NEI funding to $1 billion for FY2027 to address these unmet needs.

The NEI also faces structural threats: the Trump administration's FY2026 budget proposal sought to consolidate the NIH's 27 institutes into just eight, folding the NEI into a broader neuroscience institute and cutting overall NIH funding by approximately 40%. Congress rejected this proposal in the FY2026 appropriations process, but the risk of renewed restructuring efforts persists. Get involved: Help us protect the National Eye Institute.

DoD Vision Research Program

The Department of Defense Vision Research Program (VRP), established in FY2009, is the nation's only dedicated, peer-reviewed funding line focused on vision injuries and visual dysfunction related to military exposure — including blast-related ocular trauma and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Between 2000 and 2017, more than 275,000 eye injuries were reported among U.S. service members, more than 6,000 of which were categorized as high risk of blindness. As of early 2025, more than 500,000 service members have been diagnosed with TBI, many of whom experience significant visual complications.

This work is not conducted elsewhere within DoD, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the NEI. Congress provided $20 million annually for the VRP from FY2019 through FY2024, but funding for the the program was eliminated entirely in FY2025 — disrupting the pipeline of critical research. Advocacy by the Academy and partner organizations contributed to a partial restoration of funding at $10 million in FY2026. The Academy continues to push for full restoration to prior funding levels and beyond.