---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 285i"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "285i"
heading: "Purpose of Institute"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285i"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
  - "Subpart 9 — national eye institute"
---

# §285i. Purpose of Institute


The general purpose of the National Eye Institute (hereafter in this subpart referred to as the “Institute”) is the conduct and support of research, training, health information dissemination, and other [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind. Subject to [section 285i–1 of this title](/usc/42/285i–1.md), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute may carry out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of grants for public and private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) vision research facilities.


## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, § 455, as added Pub. L. 99–158, § 2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 856; amended Pub. L. 103–43, title XI, § 1101(b), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 169.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1993—Pub. L. 103–43 substituted “Subject to section 285i–1 of this title, the Director” for “The Director” in second sentence.