Vision research deserves more visibility
The achievements of eye researchers in Europe have gone relatively unnoticed compared to that of researchers in other life science and medical fields. The situation is now being rectified, which will ensure that policymakers are informed for the good of the public and research funding. The ʹVisual impairment and degeneration: a road-map for vision research within Europeʹ (Eurovisionnet) project is a completed EU-funded initiative that sought to better integrate European vision research. This initiative had a number of successes in promoting public and private collaboration and in improving communication among researchers, patients and the general public. Specifically, Eurovisionnet raised awareness about age-related blindness and rare eye diseases. It has also managed to highlight the importance of professional clinical trials in ophthalmology and the importance of sharing research results. In addition, the project has paved the way for better career opportunities for young scientists. More work needs to be done to make this field more visible, but Eurovisionnet has definitely opened the door.
