The mission of the VSRC is to promote vision science research, facilitate collaborative research, and add to the scientific knowledge of the eye and central visual pathways leading to improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blindness and visual impairment. Thus, the VSRC contributes to the University's mission of expanding scientific knowledge, training new investigators, and contributing to improved health care.

The VSRC has the specific goal of creating an internationally recognized center of excellence in vision science, which, by its research and related activities, will constitute a major resource for the generation of knowledge and the training of new vision scientists. The VSRC is able to pursue these goals by providing personnel and equipment support to vision scientists throughout the University, by providing laboratory and clinical facilities for research projects, and through its seminar series which brings internationally recognized scientists to the University.