'Sight-Saving' Drug Could Help Rare Eye Condition, According To Health Experts (PICTURES, VIDEO)
'Sight-Saving' Drug Could Save Eyesight
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Campaigners today welcomed the approval of a potentially sight-saving treatment for people with a debilitating eye condition.
The health watchdog recommended the use of lucentis in treating macular oedema, which can cause loss of vision and sensitivity to light, severely damaging a patient's quality of life.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said the drug, also known as ranibizumab, can reverse the devastating symptoms of the condition.
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Ranibizumab could reverse symptoms of macular oedema
Helen Jackman, chief executive of the Macular Society, said: "We are delighted that Nice has approved lucentis for these patients who, until now, have had to experience the devastating loss of their central vision.
"We are also very pleased that Novartis has reduced the price of lucentis making the drug more cost effective."
But she warned: "It is vital that the Department of Health and the new Clinical Commissioning Groups commit the necessary resources to lucentis treatment.
"We know that eye clinics are already struggling to cope with demand from patients with macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema.
"Doctors report that some patients are not receiving optimal care now. Without more resources there is a danger that patients will not get the right level of care even though there is a good treatment available."
Clara Eaglen, eye health campaigns manager at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), added the decision meant patients "now have a choice of treatment which is important as not all people can be treated with the alternative approved drug for this condition".
Lucentis is injected into the eye at a cost of £742.17 per injection, excluding VAT, with treatment given monthly.
Nice reversed its decision on the use of the drug in treating diabetic macular oedema in January, after initially saying that it was too expensive.
The approval of lucentis for macular oedema is now subject to appeals before it can be rolled out across the country.
It will be recommended if the manufacturer, Novartis, provides the drug with a discount agreed in a patient access scheme which would bring down the cost to the NHS.
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What your Eyes Reveal About Your Health
Different Shaped Pupils (01 of10)
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The pupils (the black circle in the centre of the eye) in normal people are usually symmetrical, the same size and react in the same way when exposed to sunlight. If one pupil is bigger or smaller than the other, there could be an underlying medical problem. Experts claim that differences in pupil size could indicate that the person is at a higher risk of having a stroke, brain or optic nerve tumour, or brain aneurysm. If you spot any changes to your pupils, raise this with your GP, optometrist or ophthalmologist. (credit:Alamy)
Dry Eyes (Sensitive To The Light)(02 of10)
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If your eyes are always dry and ultra sensitive to light, it could signal an immune system disorder, Sjogren, which impairs the glands in the eyes and mouth. The condition affects women over 40 with autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Seek advice from your GP if this sounds like you, as artificial lubricant can be prescribed and you'll be advised to drink plenty of water."Dry eyes are more common in women over 50 due to hormonal changes," adds Larry Benjamin from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. (credit:Alamy)
Cloudy Eyes(03 of10)
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If your eye is covered in a 'cloud' and your vision is impaired because of it, you may have a cataract. This causes a clouding of the lens inside the eye and can be corrected with surgery. This condition mainly occurs in older people but in younger people, it is commonly caused as a side effect of diabetes, tumours and some medication. (credit:MediaWiki)
Itchy Eyes (04 of10)
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Although there are many things that can cause itchiness around the eyes, the most common reason could be pinpointed to an allergic reaction. The eye, and the area around it, is delicate and sensitive and more vulnerable to infections and allergies. Triggers could be anything from airborne pollens, dust or animal fur. If you suffer from red itchy eyes, try antihistamines to ease the redness, or visit your GP to organise an allergy test. If your eye and eyelids become puffy and sore, this could be a sign that you're sleep deprived. "Fluid moves around your head when you sleep and normally disperses when you wake from a good night's sleep. "However, lack of sleep causes this fluid to retain around the eye area for longer," explains Larry Benjamin from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. (credit:Alamy)
Grey Rings(05 of10)
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If your eye has a light grey ring around the cornea (the coloured circle in your eye), you may have a condition called arcus senilis, which is often linked to high cholesterol levels and triglycerides - fatty acids found in the blood. These are linked to higher risk of heart disease and strokes, so if you spot a grey ring circling your eye, visit your GP to discuss changing your diet. (credit:Alamy)
Eyebrow Disappearance(06 of10)
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Although it's natural for eyebrows to become thinner as we age, if you notice your brows literally 'disappearing' from the outer third of the eyebrow, this could signal a thyroid dysfunction. Loss of eyebrow hair from the outer edges of your face is a common sign of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (under active thyroid). Thyroids help regulate the metabolism and thyroid hormones are vital for hair production. If in doubt, book an appointment with your GP. (credit:Alamy)
Watery Eyes(07 of10)
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"Watery eyes can indicate infection," explains Larry Benjamin from The Royal College of Ophthalmologists. "If the eye is watery, you've most likely got an infection caused by a virus. If it's sticky, you might have a bacterial infection." If your vision becomes blurry, this could also be the result of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), caused by eyestrain from lack of contrast on a computer screen. This makes the eyes work harder focusing on the pixels on the screen. If in doubt, speak to your employer about booking an eye test, which is free if you use visual display units (VDU) for long periods of time. (credit:Alamy)
Lumpy Eyelids(08 of10)
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Yellow lumps, also known, as xanthelasma palpebral, which appear on your eyelids could be a warning signal that your cholesterol levels are sky high. These are fatty deposits, which clump together and live in the eyelid. These are very often mistaken for a stye. Although these are quite common, it's best to get them checked by your optician or GP, as it can sometimes be an early sign of coronary artery disease. If you spot any coloured spots on your eyelids, in particular brown spots, visit your GP immediately as it could be an early sign of skin cancer. These usually appear on the lower part of the eyelid and will look a brownish colour with tiny blood vessels. (credit:Alamy)
Bloodshot Eyes(09 of10)
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If your eyes are always blood-shot with broken blood vessels making them look blotchy and sore, this could be a sign that you have high blood pressure. Your optician will be able to confirm this by looking at your retina (the inner part of the eye). High blood pressure causes the blood vessel in the retina to 'kink and twist', causing them to break and look red. This could increase your risk of a stroke, so raise it with your GP as soon as possible. (credit:Alamy)
Yellow Tint (10 of10)
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If the whites of your eyes have a yellow tint rather than pearly white, you may have jaundice, which is linked to various liver and gall bladder problems. A simple blood test will confirm this, so if you're in doubt, book an appointment with your GP. (credit:Alamy)
Macular oedema occurs when fluid leaks from small blood vessels into the eye.
The macular area is responsible for colour vision and perception of fine detail, and the fluid which gathers in the central part of the retina can lead to severe sight problems.
No estimates for the number of people with the condition have been made, but the risk of developing the condition increases with age. Other causes include high blood pressure, high levels of fat in the blood and diabetes.
Laser treatment has been offered on the NHS but this only prevents the condition getting worse.