Robert Charles Moon (1844 – 1914) was an ophthalmologist who practiced medicine in England and the United States. He was son of William Moon (1818-1894), inventor of Moon type, an embossed alphabet for the blind.

Robert Moon's career choice in ophthalmology was influenced by his experiences as a youth helping his father in translating and transcribing reading matter for the visually handicapped. He initially practiced medicine at the South London Ophthalmic Hospital from 1866 to 1878, which was a facility founded in 1857 by John Zachariah Laurence. With Dr. Laurence the Laurence-Moon syndrome is named, which is retinitis pigmentosa combined with several additional symptoms. In 1879 Moon emigrated to the United States and settled into an ophthalmological practice in Philadelphia.

After his retirement, Moon was involved in several philanthropic activities for the blind, and became Secretary of the Philadelphia Home Teaching Society. In 1905 he became the editor of the monthly "Moon Magazine", published by Gardner's Trust for the Blind.

[edit] References

• Robert Charles Moon @ Who Named It