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" New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) could save the sight of thousands of people affected by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the UK&amp;#039;s leading cause of blindness. Patients in England and Wales who have wet AMD in either eye will now be eligible for sight-saving anti-VEGF drugs on the NHS. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are normally given three months to implement the institute&amp;#039;s guidance. Andrew Dillon, Nice chief executive, commented: &amp;#039;AMD results in reduced quality of life and increased risks of illness, particularly in relation to accidents - especially falls - and psychological ill-health. &amp;#039;Our guidance means that patients who are suitable for this treatment will have the same access to it, irrespective of where they live.&amp;#039; The decision has been welcomed by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), which has campaigned for two-and-a-half years on behalf of people with AMD. Head of campaigns Steve Winyard commented: &amp;#039;It is a victory for thousands, bringing overwhelming relief to desperate people across the country. &amp;#039;Finally the torment faced by elderly people forced to either spend their life savings on private treatment or go blind is over.&amp;#039; \u00A9 Adfero Ltd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a17085/thousands-to-get-sight-saving-treatment/>