On 24 March 2010 at 6.00 p.m. at the Museum of London, Dr Stephen Foster will be talking about Inflammatory Eye Diseases.    This is part of a  series of  lectures about the eye that is being given by Professor William Ayliffe (ophthalmologist) at Gresham College in London.  Entrance is free and these lectures are designed for the general public.

For those of you who do not know Dr Foster, he is an emminent ophthalmologist who has set up his own practice and research unit in Boston, Massachusetts.  He has a particular interest in uveitis and held the first Birdshot Chorioretinopathy conference for patients and professionals in 2008.  He is renowned for his international work to make uveitis and conditions like birdshot better known.  He has led research to develop appropriate treatments and works hard to make sure patients get the best treatment available.  He is widely regarded as being one of the best in the business.

We are  very excited about this opportunity and wanted to give you a heads up on it.

For your information, this is what Gresham College’s website says about the lecture:

“Inflammatory eye disease is the commonest cause of acquired visual disability in “the young working age population. From infection to autoimmunity the consequences of inflammation is blind eyes and ruined lives. The adoption of steroid therapy in the 1950’s was a start but consequences of steroid therapy can be severe. From pioneering use of immunomodulation in the 20th century to biological therapies in the 21st, Dr Foster will comprehensively describe the current and future status of managing these terrible diseases.”

We are thinking of setting up a UK Birdshot Chorioretinopathy patients forum, with an annual conference, and we thought we could start with an informal meeting to coincide with this lecture.  If you are interested in attending the lecture and/or attending our first informal meeting of Birdshot patients, please email us as soon as possible at Birdshot@live.co.uk , so we can give you further information and gauge numbers for an appropriate venue.

Rea & Annie