Eye charity Fight for Sight has launched a campaign highlighting the need for more funding for sight saving research.
The charity said it was currently only able to fund one out of every eight research proposals it receives due to lack of funding.
Fight for Sight chief executive Michele Acton said: ‘Research funded by Fight for Sight has benefited so many people but we know we can do more – and we want to.’
The campaign included international DJ Laura Jones, originally from Nottinghamshire and now based in Leeds, who was diagnosed with Stargardt disease in 2008.
Fight for Sight was also working with Debbie White, diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Usher syndrome II which causes progressive vision loss and hearing impairment. She said: ‘When you start losing your sight, you start losing your independence. How would you feel if it was your sight on the line? It’s the sense people fear losing the most. So look me in the eye and tell me we can’t do better.’