The SUNY Eye Institute (SEI) is a consortium of scientists from five campuses within the State University of New York. Participating institutions include four SUNY medical schools (Downstate Medical Center, Upstate Medical University, Stony Brook University Medical Center, and the University at Buffalo) and the SUNY College of Optometry. The SEI was organized in 2007 and formally recognized by SUNY in 2009. Its aims are (1) to foster collaboration among SUNY research scientists in support of research on all aspects of visual function, with an emphasis on diseases of the human eye and their treatment, and (2) to enhance training in clinical and basic visual sciences in the U.S. State of New York. It receives financial support from SUNY through the SUNY REACH program.