October 22, 1999 Dr Jean Real Brunette President, Vision Health Research Council of Canada 260 ch. Bice Orford, Quebec. Canada, J1X 6X4  Dear Dr. Brunette:  The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) wishes to applaud and support the efforts of the Vision Health Research Council of Canada to increase the amount of research conducted in Canada that has as its goals the elimination of blinding eye diseases and the understanding of human vision.  ARVO links 11,000 clinicians and scientists from around the world who share those goals. There are almost 400 Canadian members of ARVO. At the 1999 annual meeting of our organization, over 5,000 presentations were made, and Canadian contributions last year numbered at least 220. The contributions of Canada should and could be greater if your research infrastructure and funding supported more scientists and clinicians. If your quest to increase such support is successful, then we can look forward to an enhanced Canadian presence at the annual meeting and in our vision journals. And the world will have the added efforts of talented Canadians, working in Canada, whose genius will add to the -efforts to eliminate visual disease and disorders. Discoveries have no borders, but scientists must be nurtured in their own countries to aid in their efforts to end the scourge of blindness.  Wishing you success in your efforts to increase vision health research in Canada, I am  Sincerely yours  President  CAP/asd