The LVRG is an organization whose members have an interest in low-vision research. Our mission includes the following:

• We foster communication among low-vision researchers, especially those with different professional credentials.
• We encourage critical and frank discussion and review of low-vision research in both formal and informal settings.
• We endeavor to increase the attention paid to low vision within the vision research community.

Activities:

• An elected Program Committee organizes an annual meeting at which low-vision research is presented and discussed. Currently the committee meets during the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and at the Academy of Optometry annual meeting.
• The Program Committee also works with granting agencies, journals and ARVO to encourage consideration and high-quality review of low-vision research.
• Through the Atwell award, the LVRG identifies and rewards a research contribution by a young investigator.
• LVRGNET is the Internet presence of the LVRG. LVRGNET sends announcements to LVRG members via e-mail and provides information on low-vision research on the World-Wide Web (WWW).

Membership:

• Anyone with an interest in low-vision research is encouraged to join.
• The LVRG membership consists of active researchers, rehabilitation professionals, ophthalmologists and optometrists, academics (PhD's), and also include developers of assistive devices, agency administrators and consumers who are committed to promoting and applying research.

History and Current Status:

• The LVRG began in 1986 as a result of an initiative by Constance Atwell of the National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She sought to encourage high-quality research proposals to the NEI in the area of low vision.
• The LVRG was originally comprised of NEI grantees in the area of low vision, but quickly expanded to include a more diverse collection of researchers.