Rare Disease Day 2016

Moorfields is supporting Rare Disease Day on 29 February with a number of activities running up to the day which will feature a web chat with Professor Michel Michaelides.

Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year and aims to raise awareness among the general public and decision makers about rare illnesses and their impact on patients’ lives. A rare disease is defined by the European Union as one that affects less than 5 in 10,000 of the general population, findings show 1 in 17 people, or 7% of the population, will be affected by a rare disease at some point in their lives.

From Monday 22 February, across our Twitter and Facebook channels we will be highlighting a number of rare eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, birdshot uveitis, achromatopsia and Stargardts disease which affect some of our patients.

On Monday 29 February between 12.30-1.30pm the Rare Disease Day web chat will go live and staff, patients and the general public can ask Professor Michaelides, consultant ophthalmologist about rare eye conditions through a link available here.