OBJECTIVES: Research impact is an emerging measure of research achievement alongside traditional academic outputs such as publications. We present the results of applying the Framework to Assess the Impact from Translational Health Research (FAIT) to the ophthalmology discipline construction project at Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital. METHODS: Data were gathered via in-depth interviews and document analysis to report on the three major FAIT methods: the Payback Framework, an assessment of costs against monetized outcomes and a narrative account of the impact generated from ophthalmology discipline construction project. FAIT was applied from September 2022 to August 2023. RESULTS: The discipline construction project supported 64 graduate students in graduating, 15 members of the discipline team were newly employed as graduate student mentors, 12 continuing education projects were approved, 24 research projects were approved, 116 papers were published, 5 monographs were edited, nine academic conferences were held, one Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award was won, 21 patents were authorized and two technology transfers were realized. In addition, 12 expert consensuses were formulated, and 11 new technologies and projects were carried out. More than 60 science popularization activities were held, more than 270 science popularization articles were published, more than 10 000 diabetes patients were screened via eyeground exam, and one expert service base was built. Moreover, 2 scientific research systems were updated, 4 talent systems were updated, 12 medical systems were updated, 2 medical systems were formulated and 1 financial system was formulated. The total cost of the discipline construction project is ¥1.542 million RMB. Outcomes from the discipline construction project that could be monetized were in total ¥290.5 million RMB, indicating a return of ¥1.9 RMB for every yuan. CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmology discipline construction project has successfully met expectations and has achieved good outcomes. The evaluation results are comprehensive and objective; the representation of return on investment ratio is simple yet effective, which can help decision-makers understand the project well.