From April 2009 to June 2010, the National Eye Institute (NEI) celebrated its 40th anniversary as the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) lead Institute that manages and funds the nation’s commitment to save and restore vision. The NEI's leadership is important, since in the decade 2010-2020:
- 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 every day.
- The fast-growing Hispanic and African American populations experience a disproportionate incidence of eye disease (e.g., African Americans have a three-time higher rate of glaucoma incidence than white Americans).
- The NEI’s Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group in its 2004 study noted that 50 million Americans will be blind, have low vision, or an age-related eye disease by 2020 unless appropriate treatments and therapies are employed.
In 2009, Congress passed resolutions recognizing the NEI's 40th anniversary and designating 2010-2020 as The Decade of Vision (DOV).
On July 7, 2009, the Senate passed S. Res 209, which was introduced by Senator Johnny Isakson and Senator Ben Cardin. To read the text of the resolution, click here. On June 16, 2009, by a vote of 411-0, the House passed H. Res. 366, which was introduced by Cong. Tammy Baldwin and Cong. Pete Sessions. To read the Dear Colleague letter that introduced and explains the resolution, click here. To read the text of the resolution, click here.
The DOV is a sustained effort to recognize the power of federally funded vision research to benefit patients by increasing productivity, maintaining independence, and improving quality of life.
Various activities that were associated with the NEI 40th anniversary/Decade of Vision 2010-2020 Initiative are listed below.
Events
June 25, 2010
NEI Concludes the 40th Anniversary Celebration with a Symposium on Translational Research and Vision at which Dr. Collins Recognizes Its Leadership on This Priority NIH Issue
April 29, 2010
Artificial Retina Holds Promise for Restoring Vision to Millions
March 11, 2010
Vision Community Unites to Observe World Glaucoma Week on Capitol Hill
February 18, 2010
Vision Research Meeting Battlefield Needs: Corneal Wound Sealing/Healing and Protection
September 22, 2009
Researcher Educates Capitol Hill About the Robo4 Protein Pathway During AMD Awareness Week 2009
June 17, 2009
NEI 40th Anniversary Congressional Reception
April 3, 2009
A Tongue for an Eye: Event Features BrainPort Device and Blind Adventure Athlete
January 28, 2009
NAEVR/AEVR Initiate NEI 40th Anniversary Events in 2009 with Capitol Hill Reception
Press Releases
December 2009
NEI Posts Top Five Stories of 2009
October 13, 2009
Book Recounts Establishment and First Three Decades of the National Eye Institute
July 7, 2009
Senate Passes S. Res. 209 Recognizing the NEI's 40th Anniversary and Designating 2011-2020 as the Decade of Vision
June 16, 2009
House Passes H. Res. 366 Recognizing the NEI's 40th Anniversary and Designating 2010-2020 as the Decade of Vision
Resolutions
H. Res. 366
House Floor Debate on H. Res. 366
S. Res. 209
Senate Floor Debate on S. Res. 209
Resolutions and Congratulatory Letters
Anniversaries: A Time to Reflect, Courtesy of EyeNet Magazine, the member newsmagazine of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, June 2009
AMD Alliance International Letter, May 2009
American Academy of Optometry Letter, June 2009
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Letter, June 2009
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Letter, May 2009
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Letter, June 2009
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) Letter, June 2009
Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Letter, May 2009
Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Resolution, January 2009
Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Letter, May 2009
Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) Letter, June 2009
Fight For Sight Letter, June 2009
The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF) Letter, May 2009
International Eye Foundation Letter, May 2009
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Letter, June 2009
Lions Club International Letter, June 2009
Ocular Microbiology and Immunology Group (OMIG) Letter, June 2009
Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS) Letter, May 2009
Research to Prevent Blindness Letter, June 2009
About NEI Research
"How to Keep Your Sight", from NIH Medline Plus Magazine Summer 2008
March 1993 Ophthalmology Article about the founding of the NEI, upon its 25th anniversary
Important Events in the NEI's History
NEI Leads in Eye and Vision Research; Collaborative Research with other NIH Institutes and Federal Entities and the Private Sector (March 2009)
NEI Research Highlighted in Summer 2008 NIH Medline Plus Magazine
NEI Website
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