About the Vision Appeal

Most of us will need specialist care for our eyes or vision at some point in our lives. Vision is one of our most important senses. Over 2 million people live with sight loss in the UK. This is predicted to double to 4 million by 2050 (RNIB).

Through our Vision Appeal we want to help more people access world-class eye care. We’re building a state-of-the-art new Eye Hospital in Sunderland and looking to raise vital funds so we can invest in the latest technology, equipment, facilities and research.

This is a once in a generation opportunity for us to develop a regional centre for excellence and build on our excellent national reputation for care and research. We want to make sure the care we provide is the very best that it can be.

Our new eye hospital is set to open in 2026. It will treat over 130,000 patients from our local communities and beyond. If you or your loved ones need treatment from us in years to come, you will receive it at our new Eye Hospital.

This new, improved space gives us the opportunity to invest in cutting edge treatments and technology. With your support, we can buy things that would not be funded through normal NHS sources. Things that will make a massive difference to people of all ages with a wide range of eye conditions and diseases.

What we want to fund

Just like mobile phones, technology changes very quickly in the world of eye treatment. We have set our sights on a number of key pieces of equipment. This is over and above the kit that we will install as part of the new Eye Hospital.

You can find the full list here - Vision Appeal - https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/our-charity/appeals-campaigns/vision-appeal

This equipment ranges in cost from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds each.

How can you support the Vision Appeal?

You can donate directly to the appeal. Just click on the blue ‘give now’ button on the right hand side of the screen.

You can take part in some fundraising, from organising a bake sale to running a marathon. No idea is too big or small. Click on the orange ‘start fundraising’ button on the right hand side of this screen to set up your own fundraising page linked to the Vision Appeal.

You can tell your friends, family and work colleagues about the Vision Appeal. We want to get as many people involved as possible.