A Sight Fighter is quite simply someone who has to fight for vision. There are many ways to do this, and it's often unique to the condition and the individual.

For some people this means patching their children, for others it means spending countless hours in waiting rooms in order to get the best care possible. For some people it means anxiously tracking research in the hope that it comes up with new ways to preserve or restore vision, and for others it means helping raise money to make sure that this happens faster. 

Whatever your situation, if vision is at risk, the chances are that you are a Sight Fighter. 

There are just two obligations for Sight Fighters. 

You need to care, and you need to be interested in what's hapening in the area of eye research. 

There is no financial obligation or time commitment. All we ask is that you be aware of what is happening, and get involved when and where you can. This might take many different forms depending on your particular situation, including: 

• assisting with fundraising projects in your own local community or workplace (ie by buying or selling raffle tickets, Entertainment Books, merchandise); 
• telling your story to help other people see the real impact of vision loss on the lives of ordinary people and families; 
• volunteering your time or talents, or by suggesting fundraising opportunities; 
• offering support and advice to other members who are at a different stage in their journey; 
• providing your feedback and suggestions to help guide eye research and treatment services. 

By signing up to become a Sight Fighter you are indicating that you care about eye research, and want to be involved in whatever capacity suits your situation best. 

Sight Fighters is a network of patients and families who are impacted by vision loss. We hope that by joining forces, we can have greater impact on research, and therefore on lives. 

Sight Fighter will keep you informed about what's happening in the area of eye research, and will offer opportunities to contribute through events, merchandise, newsletters, sponsorships, media stories and support. 

Sight Fighters offer you a chance to be empowered and to play a role in changing the future of eye care. 

All you need do is complete our online form, which will collect your contact information and your particular research interest area. 

We will use this information to develop sub-groups who are focused on fundraising for particular research areas. For instance, if you or someone who you care about is affected by retinal disease, you can opt to make direct contributions to this area of research. Similarly with cataract, macular, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and all other eye conditions, common and rare. 

Save Sight Institute, a research centre of The University of Sydney and located at Sydney Eye Hospital, has dedicated research groups focused on each of these areas. 

Sight Fighter has been formed by patients and family members who are care for by the ophthalmologists and clinicians at Save Sight Institute and many other ophthalmic practices in NSW and the ACT. 

Save Sight Institute is a world-renowned research institute, boasting a staff of internationally acclaimed clinicians, scientists and ophthalmologists. The institute is making excellent progress towards saving and restoring sight for many people, but needs help to fast-track these efforts in order to make a difference in the lives of current patients. 

Formed by the parents of children affected by blinding disorders such as cataract, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and uveitis, the Sight Fighter group exists to raise funds and support the research efforts of scientists and researchers. 

Absolutely not. Sight Fighters come from everywhere. No matter where you live, if you have an idea to help fast-track eye research, we encourage you to join up and share what you're doing. You may find others keen to help you out on your project, or you may inspire someone else to try something similar in their own local area. If nothing else, you'll join a network of like-minded people with a shared interest in raising the profile of eye conditions and pushing research forward. You'll receive information about what the latest research developments are.

In the end, it makes no difference to those of us affected where the research takes place. All we care about is that it happens - and soon. Save Sight Institute is located in Sydney Australia, and this is where the seed of such an engaged patient action group came from. We figured, that as the people and families with the most to gain from eye research, we can't afford to sit back and wait for benevolent organisations and people to make donations. We need to roll up our sleeves, and get involved. We will demonstrate that we can do more than attend appointments and pay bills. We can help make things happen. 

We will put you in contact with members who live in your area, or who are affected by the same condition. Together, and with our help, you can get involved in  making clinical trials and emerging treatments more accessible to more people.