OUR MISSION!
Vision loss can be devastating. Much of what we learn from the world around us comes through our eyes, and our ability to do many tasks in our daily lives depends on our sight. It is not surprising that people rate their fear of vision loss second only to their fear of cancer.
Thirty-eight million Americans suffer from significant visual impairment. In Wisconsin, estimates indicate that as many as 200,000 residents are blind or visually impaired, nearly 4% of the population, and many more are believed to have eye conditions that may potentially result in permanent vision loss. And, it will not get better on its own. Without improvements in preventing and treating eye diseases, the number of blind or visually impaired Americans 40 and older will grow from 3.4 to 5.5 million in 2020. The economic and societal cost of eye diseases exceeds $68 billion annually--not including the impact on jobs, productivity, independence, and quality of life.
Leading scientists believe that the major causes of blindness can be cured within the first decades of the 21st century. Advances in understanding the causes of eye disease, identifying people at risk, and discovering new treatments promise an end to the greatest threats to sight.
HOWEVER, PUBLIC SUPPORT
IS NEEDED.
Cycle for Sight will provide funds to UW vision scientists who have a pressing need for immediate funding to pursue a critical piece of research, to develop a new collaborative relationship, or to speed up work in a research area with great competition for a “first” discovery. Funds will jump-start innovative projects and bring new technologies to the study of blinding diseases. Public support often provides the initial “seed money” for crucial preliminary findings that then can be used to garner further research support from national agencies.
Let’s be partners. The University of Wisconsin Eye Research Institute, students and faculty, and members of the Madison community ask you to support our mission. Please support our indoor team cycling event, a healthy way to extend the wonder of sight to others.
To learn more about vision research at UW, please visit our website at www.vision.wisc.edu