Since the founding of Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute in 1925, Wilmer faculty have been pioneers in the field — responsible for discovering that excess oxygen in incubators causes retinal damage in many premature infants, establishing neuro-ophthalmology as a specialty, and finding that giving vitamin A capsules to children in developing countries to prevent blindness also cut death rates in these children by 30 percent.

Today, Wilmer Eye Institute remains an innovation powerhouse, with cutting-edge projects that include mapping out a plan to regenerate the optic nerve, identifying new targets and treatments for sight-stealing diseases, and establishing an institute dedicated to caring for patients with complex genetic eye disorders.