Tell Congress:
Support Eye and Vision Research by
Fully Funding the National Eye Institute

The Facts

We need Congress to fully fund the National Eye Institute (NEI), not cut funding. The NEI supports critically important eye and vision research.

For fiscal year 2013, vision advocacy organizations are urging Congress to fund the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at a level of at least $32 billion, which includes $730 million for the National Eye Institute (NEI). This reflects a 4.5% increase over FY 2012 levels-necessary because enacted spending bills in recent years have effectively cut the NIH budget.

Why Cuts Cost Us More in the Long Run

Right now, the total U.S. health system cost for vision diseases is more than $51 billion. And that number is about to soar when it comes to caring for age-related vision disorders: the Baby Boom generation has begun turning 65 at the rate of 10,000 people per day for the next 19 years.

Discoveries from vision research that lead to early detection, prevention, or new treatments will ultimately reduce our healthcare costs.

We can't afford to wait. The nation must invest in vision research.

What You Can Do

1. Tell Congress to fully fund the NEI.
   
   
   • Email your U.S. Representative by finding the legislator's name and email address
   • Contact your two U.S. Senators.
     
     
2. Urge your U.S. Representative to join the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC). This bipartisan group pursues a national dialogue on vision health, including a focus on research, through briefings, press conferences, and other actions. The CVC is co-chaired by Representatives Gene Green (D-TX), David Price (D-NC), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), and Iliana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Check to see if your legislator is a member.

Last Review: 04/29/13