Doctors and patients have called for more government funding and public education about inherited incurable blindness.
A recent survey of 176 patients and 47 family members revealed they felt neglected by the Government and society.
More than 63 per cent of respondents did not think the Government had an effective policy to create equal employment opportunities for such patients. Almost all respondents felt frustrated at the lack of support and more than half said they were worried and lacked hope.
Inherited retinal degeneration diseases involve the incurable and gradual loss of vision because of genetic disorders.
According to Tsang Kin-ping, president of the Hong Kong Retinitis Pigmentosa Society, the Government had put some money in place through the Hong Kong Patient Register for Retinal Degenerative Diseases, but the $700,000 fund would run out next year. The Government has not pledged additional funding.
'They should continue the subsidy so the project can continue,' said Mr Tsang, who himself suffers retinitis pigmentosa.