Patients, Public and Service Users are Experts by Experience: An Overview from Ophthalmology Research in Canada, UK and Beyond

Discussion of the positive impact on research and mutual benefit that arises through genuine researcher and expert by experience collaboration has been noticeably absent from global sight loss and vision conferences. This article is co-authored by a parent advocate whose children have bilateral retinoblastoma, an eye health researcher and a practitioner in patient and public involvement in research who came together at the 2019 annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology to share their first-hand experiences. The aim of this commentary is to highlight good practice and encourage colleagues to pursue steps towards a more engaged ophthalmology research landscape globally.