There are 26,000 new cases of wet AMD in the UK each year and the condition can lead to blindness in as little as 3 months if left untreated.    
 
In December 2007 NICE published revised draft guidance for consultation proposing that Lucentis should be available to most patients who develop wet AMD in either eye.     This overturned previous draft guidance requiring a person to go blind in one eye before treatment could be considered.
 
PCTs will be required to implement today’s guidance in less than 3 months bringing relief to thousands of AMD sufferers forced to decide to spend life-savings on private treatment.    
 
Beacon Centre is very grateful to Mrs Violet Greenshill of Russell Hall Road Dudley,and her grandson Mr Tom Greenshill for offering to donate the money raised for Mrs Greenshill’s private treatment after Dudley PCT approved her treatment following a review.  Kate Fletcher Capital Appeal Officer at Beacon Centre said, “ We were delighted for Mrs Greenshill when we heard that she was eligible for treatment with Lucentis.  Her grandson’s generosity will help thousands of others battling to cope with sight loss and we would like to extend our grateful thanks to the Greenshills for their generous support. Unfortunately other people in the Black Country have not been as lucky. Today’s announcement will bring them relief and give hope to all those who develop AMD in the future.”