National Eye Institute

National Eye Institute

The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established in 1968 and is located in Bethesda, Maryland. The NEI is one of 27 institutes and centers of the US National Institutes of Health, an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The mission of NEI is to prolong and protect the vision of the American people. The NEI conducts and performs research into treating and preventing diseases affecting the eye or vision.

History

^[1][2]Before the National Eye Institute (NEI) was established, primary responsibility for vision research at NIH was done by the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Blindness (NINDB) [2] (which is now known as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke). NINDB was established in 1950, after President Truman signed the Omnibus Medical Research Act [2]. The bill agreed to establish new separate institutes within NIH [1]. This marked the beginning of vision research at a federal level.

Image of Dr. Carl Kupfer By the National Eye Institute

Organizing, structuring, and separating vision and neurological research was a challenge at NINDB. NIH did its best to provide an equal budget plan for separate funding for vision research within NINDB. But there was not enough support and staff to handle more projects then what they were already undertaking. This lead to the vision research program losing sufficient funding compared to the neurological research program [2]. Some prominent members within the vision research community were not satisfied with how NINDB was operating [2]. They did not approve of combining the two subjects of vision and neurological research together. This prompted some leading academic ophthalmologists and vision community supporters which included Bernard Becker, David Cogan, Edward Maumenee, Michael Hogan, John McLean, Frank Newell, Jules Stein, and Frank Winter to campaign for a separate institute that solely focused on vision research [2].

The group of supporters had rallied together to begin an effort to promote and advocate for a separate vision institute at NIH. They overcame obstacles and their efforts were finally rewarded. President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed legislation creating the National Eye Institute, to be a part of the National Institutes of Health. The National Eye Institute (NEI) was established on August 16, 1968 [1]. This meant that the NEI would be the country’s first civilian governmental body that focused on visual diseases and disorders in vision research [1].

The first director of NEI was Dr. Carl Kupfer. He was appointed on January 11, 1970 ^[3]. Dr. Kupfer wanted to establish and mold NEI into the lead agency in vision research. He wanted to make sure that the vision research program expanded and was focused on the entire visual system and not just part of it [2]. During the first 14 years the institute succeeded in attracting some noted researchers and doctors and increasing the number of researchers in vision science on its intramural staff. In 1983 NEI received national recognition for its leadership in both clinical ophthalmology and research on eye diseases and disorders [1].

Organizational Structure

• Office of the Director:^[4]
  • Dr. Paul A Sieving (Director)
  • Dr. Deborah A Carper (Deputy Director)
  • David L. Whitmer (Associate Director for Management)
    • Division of Intramural Research: Dr. Sheldon S Miller (Scientific Director)
    • Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications: Dr. Frederick L Ferris III (Director)
    • Division of Extramural Research: Dr. Loré Anne McNicol (Director)

Research Priorities

The NEI strives to be inclusive by requesting input from the community of vision researchers as well as professional and patient advocacy organizations. NEI planning activities are conducted under the auspices of the National Advisory Eye Council (NAEC), a committee of clinicians, researchers, patients and stakeholders that advises the Institute on funding decisions, initiatives, and strategic planning.^[5]

The NEI recognizes that new ideas and concepts are constantly emerging, and that the main engine for scientific discovery is investigator-initiated research. The most important priority is to support the highest quality research that will help achieve the mission of the NEI.^[6]

Some of the areas of interest include, retinal diseases , corneal diseases, lens and cataract, glaucoma and optic neuropathies, strabismus, amblyopia, and visual processing, and low vision and blindness rehabilitation.^[7]

Research Achievements

NEI supported research has contributed to visual well-being of the world and has advanced our knowledge of how the eye functions in health and disease. Some of the research supported by the NEI is:

The Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)

AREDS was a randomized clinical trial study that showed high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduces the risk of advanced AMD and its associated vision loss.^[8]

Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS)

A multicenter, randomized clinical trial that treating clinically significant macular edema (CSME) with focal argon laser photocoagulation reduced the risk of additional vision loss and aspirin showed no benefit in delaying or reducing the onset or severity of retinopathy. Likewise, aspirin did not increase the risk for development of retinopathy or the progression of retinopathy.^[9]

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS)

The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the long-range outcomes of medical and surgical management in advanced glaucoma. The study uses visual function status to compare two intervention sequences in managing the disease.^[10]

After seven years of follow-up on these patients enrolled in the AGIS, results revealed that blacks and whites differed in the way they benefited from the two treatment programs. Based on the study results, it is recommended that black patients with advanced glaucoma begin a treatment program that starts with laser surgery, which is consistent with current medical practice. In contrast, white patients with advanced glaucoma who have no life-threatening health problems should begin a treatment program that starts with trabeculectomy. This recommendation is inconsistent with current medical practice.^[11]

Because glaucoma is a life-long disease, long-term information is important. The AGIS patients will continue to be followed for up to four more years.^[12]

References:

External links

• NEI Website
• NEI Health Information Page
• NEI Strategic Plan
• ClinicalTrials
• PubMed

This article about a medical organization or association is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e