Mrs Webb's case is being reviewed as a matter of urgency

Sylvie Webb, 58, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in her left eye in February 2007.

Dorset Primary Care Trust has so far refused to give her the sight-saving drugs she needs saying it has yet to formulate a policy for the treatment.

It has now agreed to review her case as a matter of urgency.

Decision postponed

Wet AMD can lead to blindness in as little as three months.

Mrs Webb, a secretary at Wiltshire PCT, said she needs prompt treatment to minimise the risk of permanent sight loss.

"In February, my consultant asked for a rapid response to my request for treatment because my sight is deteriorating day by day and it is difficult to improve vision once it is lost," she said.

"At the time, the PCT said it hadn't got a policy and it would address the situation in April but it has now postponed this until June.

"Bureaucratic idleness"

"I'm extremely worried that time is running out for me and other patients."

Tom Bremridge, chief executive of the Macular Disease Society, said the delay was "negligent and disgraceful". He added: "It is outrageous that in this day and age Mrs Webb faces losing her sight owing to bureaucratic idleness."

But Dorset PCT put the delays down to ensuring funding and access to specialist treatments was managed in a "fair and equitable way".

It said, while the drug Macugen has recently been licensed, it has not yet been approved by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) and that final approval is expected later this year.