Mr Howard says he and his wife fear they will be left housebound

Ex-serviceman Leslie Howard, 76, from Acomb, York, was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in his right eye in November.

His local primary care trust (PCT) only pays for the �6,000-a-year treatment once he loses the sight in one eye and develops wet AMD in the other.

The Royal National Institute of the Blind was "outraged" by the decision.

Steve Winyard, head of campaigns at the RNIB, said: "This is a desperate situation for Mr Howard.

"His PCT is leaving him to go blind even though sight-saving treatments are available on the NHS.

To know that I will now lose my sight because I can't afford private treatment is diabolical Leslie Howard, AMD sufferer

"The actions of the PCTs are simply unacceptable. There is a moral imperative to save the sight of people where we can.

"It also makes no economic sense to deny treatment. The cost of supporting people with sight loss far outweighs the cost of treatment."

Wet AMD can cause sight loss in as little as three months and requires prompt treatment.

The RNIB said Mr Howard could not afford the private treatment which was his only hope.

'Paid my dues'

Mr Howard said: "I can't believe I'm being left to go blind in one eye.

"I've spent most of my working life devoted to public service - I was in the army, police and prison service and I've never failed to pay my dues.

"I've paid literally tens of thousands of pounds in taxes and to know that I will now lose my sight because I can't afford private treatment is diabolical.

"Has the government lost all sense of compassion as well as economics? Is there no way I can get help to save my sight?

"My wife and I have arthritis of the spine and if I lose my sight, we'll end up housebound, and that will destroy us."

The decision to refuse treatment with new drugs, known as anti-VEGF, was made by the North Yorkshire and York PCT because it has not yet received final guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) on their use.

Costs under review

The trust said in a statement: "There is no Nice guidance for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration with drugs.

"In agreement with other PCTs in the region, North Yorkshire and York PCT has agreed to fund anti-VEGF drugs for patients for whom it has been evidenced that this will be an effective treatment.

"This is based on an assessment of the patients against an agreed clinical criteria established by the PCTs."

The trust said it would review the process after publication of any Nice guidance.

A spokesman for Nice said anti-VEGF drugs were deemed safe to use but an assessment of their value for money was still ongoing. The anticipated publication date for this appraisal is September.