[2][3] Together with Moorfields Eye Hospital, the institute is the oldest and largest centre for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in Europe.

[8] In April 2008 the results of the world's first successful gene transplant for blindness trial, carried out by a team at the institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital, were published.

[9][10] In April 2009, the institute entered into a collaboration and license agreement with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer focused on gaining understanding into how to develop stem cell-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration.

[11][12] In the same month, details were published of the world's first stell cell based procedure for age-related macular degeneration, developed by researchers at the institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

[13] In September 2010 the institute entered into a three-year agreement with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to collaborate on the identification of new treatments for diabetic retinopathy using the regenerative capacity of stem cells.