About British Council for the Prevention of Blindness

The British Council for Prevention of Blindness funds research which has the potential to make major breakthroughs in the prevention of blindness. For example, the charity funded research leading to the development of the drug Ivermectcin, which has helped to eradicate river blindness in many parts of Africa.

Current projects include a major study into more effective methods of preventing childhood blindness in Tanzania and research into the possible genetic basis of glaucoma, a major cause of blindness in elderly people.

The charity also funds the training of eye care professionals from developing countries. They train in Community Eye Care at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, returning home to set up programmes which save the sight of many thousands of people.

Since the scheme's inception in 1982 the charity has been able to fund 32 such professionals.

To fund these research and training programmes the charity depends entirely on the generous support of donors.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 80% of blindness is avoidable - preventable or treatable. In partnership with charities the WHO has set up Vision 2020, a programme to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.

With your help and by working together with partner charities like Sight Savers. Fight For Sight and others, the British Council for Prevention of Blindness aims to make Vision 2020 a reality.