Mrs Jackson said if she goes blind she would want to die

Doris Jackson was told North Manchester Primary Care Trust had concerns about the treatment, but the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital disagreed and carried out the work.

Mrs Jackson, from Blackley, has been forced to use her life savings to pay for the surgery and now has very little money left.

She has had four out of five treatment sessions of the photo-dynamic therapy, but is not certain whether her sight will be restored.

She told BBC GMR: "I've got to go for one more treatment.

'Totally confused'

"If [my sight] goes all together, I think that will be the finish, I wouldn't want to live anymore."

She said her GP had also agreed the treatment was safe.

Mrs Jackson's son, Stephen, said they had both been left "totally confused" by the situation.

He said: "They say it's not safe or effective and they won't fund it because they have not got any proof that it's effective or safe.

"But they're taking the money and doing the treatment."

A primary care trust spokeswoman said it was waiting for guidelines on photo-dynamic therapy to be published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice).

She said: "Until we receive those guidelines, through our policy on effective use of resources, we won't be able to fund this treatment.

"We've not said we won't fund it in the future, but in the interest of patient safety we need the guidance first."