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Help Advocate

• Over 8 million Canadians are living with blinding eye diseases and 1.2 million Canadians are living with vision loss
• Vision loss in Canada has an annual cost of $32.9 billion
• 3 out of 4 cases of vision loss could be prevented if caught early or treated
• New treatments to prevent vision loss and restore sight are needed for many Canadians who don’t currently have any option

On this page, you will find information about our work to bring new treatments and cures to Canadians, and opportunities to support our efforts.

WORKING TOWARDS A NATIONAL EYE CARE STRATEGY

For years, Fighting Blindness Canada in partnership with the Canadian Council of the Blind, CNIB, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, Diabetes Canada, Canadian Association of Optometrists and Canadian Ophthalmological Society have advocated for a National Eye Care Strategy to:

• Raise awareness of the impact of vision loss and blindness in Canada
• Improve eye health care and support
• Increase funding for innovative research to advance new therapies

In 2022, a private members bill was introduced in the House of Commons calling for the establishment of a National Eye Care Strategy. The bill received royal consent in 2024 and we are now working with our other vision partners to ensure our community’s needs are reflected in the final strategy.

• Explore our federal role infographic and vision research flyer

Understanding the impact of Vision Loss

Vision loss has significant impacts on the well-being, mental health, as well as finances of individuals and their families. However, there is a lack of data in this area, which can be a barrier to the development and approval of treatments and delivery of appropriate clinical care. To address this Fighting Blindness Canada undertakes research to uncover the often-hidden costs of living with a blinding eye disease

Reports on Vision Health Care in Canada

The Report Card on the State of Vision Health Care in Canada (2024) (Full 2024 Report) (Infographic)

The Report Card on the State of Vision Health Care in Canada (2022) (Full 2022 Report)

Cost of Vision Loss Report in Canada (2021) (Full 2021 Report) (Impact of Covid-19 Addendum)

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rEGULATORY sUBMISSIONS

FBC provides patient input to government agencies like the Canadian Association for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) to ensure they consider the vision loss community’s lived experience as they are making decisions about regulations, budgets or providing recommendations about which treatments should be approved and funded. FBC actively seeks community input through surveys and interviews to ensure that the experiences of people with vision loss are represented through these processes.

Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) Submissions

• Voretigene neparvovec (Luxturna®), submitted to CADTH May 2020

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Submissions

• Brolucizumab (Beovu®), submitted to CADTH October 2019
• Faricimab, submitted to CADTH February 2022
• Eylea HD®, submitted to CADTH August 2023
• Pegcetocoplan (Syfovre®), submitted to the CDA, February 2024

Diabetes Macular Edema Submissions

• Faricimab, submitted to CADTH April 2022
• Ozurdex (Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant), submitted to CADTH June 2022
• Eylea HD®, submitted to CADTH August 2023

Glaucoma Submissions

• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery submitted to CADTH September 2018