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About NAEVR and AEVR...

NAEVR is a non-profit advocacy organization comprised of a coalition of 55 professional, consumer, and industry organizations involved in eye and vision research. NAEVR’s goal is to achieve the best eye and vision care for all Americans through advocacy and public education for eye and vision research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Eye Institute (NEI), Department of Defense (DOD), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

NAEVR was formed in 1997 as an affiliated organization of the non-profit educational foundation Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR), which was founded in 1993. In 2013, the Alliances are celebrating 20 years of leadership for vision research funding. Serving as the “Friends of the NEI,” NAEVR/AEVR believe that NEI-funded research to save/restore vision has served to reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity, maintain independence, and improve the quality of life for all Americans.

In 2012, NAEVR’s advocacy resulted in an additional $14 million in vision research funding from the DOD, specifically for the Vision Trauma Research Program (VTRP) to address defense-related traumatic eye injuries. NAEVR’s advocacy also prevented an $8.2 million transfer of NEI-related AIDS funding back to NIH central.

About AEVR’s Decade of Vision 2010-2020 Initiative...

In 2009, the NEI celebrated its 40th anniversary as the NIH’s lead Institute that manages and funds the nation’s commitment to save and restore vision. Accordingly, Congress recognized NEI’s anniversary by passing H. Res. 366 and S. Res. 209, which also designated 2010-2020 as the decade of vision and recognized NAEVR/AEVR leadership as the “Friends of NEI.”

AEVR’s Decade of Vision 2010-2020 Initiative is a sustained educational effort about the power of federally funded vision research to benefit patients. The decade is especially important because:

  • The first wave of 78 million Baby Boomers will turn 65 in 2010, and each day for 18 years afterwards, about 10,000 Americans will turn 65.

  • The fast-growing Hispanic and African American populations experience a disproportionate incidence of eye disease.

  • NEI predicts that, by 2020, more than 50 million Americans will be blind, have low vision, or an age-related eye disease [e.g., age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or cataract].
DOV deliverables to-date include numerous Congressional briefings and the resource documents The Silver Book®: Vision Loss, Volume II, and The Value of Defense-Related Vision Research.

NAEVR encourages all Web site visitors to become an advocate for eye and vision research by joining the NAEVR Action List and contacting your Members of Congress about the importance of adequately funding the NEI.

If you would like to become a financial supporter of NAEVR's activities, please click here.

Key NAEVR Messages

NAEVR Strategic Plan

Message from the NAEVR President

AEVR Educational Activities

NAEVR/AEVR Board of Directors

Member Organizations

Contributor Reports