Since 1980, ISPB has annually awarded grants to support research in eye and vision health. The grant program was established “to support exploratory research studies in vision, especially as such research relates to the prevention of blindness.” Grants are awarded to medical students, residents, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, assistant professors and other junior faculty in the ophthalmology and optometry fields. A Research Committee, consisting of ISPB board members and other professionals, review and award the grants each year. The committee evaluates applications based on the validity of the hypothesis, scientific rigor and usefulness of final data.