Restrictions on the use of treatment on the NHS for a common cause of blindness will condemn up to 2,500 people a year to sight loss, say campaigners.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is furious that treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is unlikely to be made more widely available.

Surely a proven treatment for a blinding eye condition should be available on the NHS to all who can benefit? Steve Winyard

Experts working on behalf of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have recommended the treatment, Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) should be made available on the NHS only to people who have a certain type of wet AMD.

But the RNIB says this will mean that around 2,500 people who could benefit from the treatment will not get it.

Different forms

In their recommendation to NICE, the experts suggest that the treatment should be made available to people who have the "classic" form of wet AMD.

However, they say it should not be offered as routine to people who have a mix of the "classic" and "occult" forms of the condition.

Wet AMD is caused by the development of new blood vessels beneath the retina of the eye. It is sub-divided into "classic" and "occult" forms according to the appearance of the new blood vessels.

The "classic" form develops more rapidly.

But the RNIB says that research has proven that the treatment is equally effective for both groups of patients.

Views ignored

Steve Winyard, head of public policy at RNIB and chair of the AMD Alliance said: "Every single organisation consulted by NICE argued that this sight saving treatment should be available for all 7,500 patients who could benefit.

"NICE have ignored those views, making the consultation an utter sham."

Mr Winyard said PDT was clinically proven and in use across Europe and North America.

"This determination will mean that ophthalmologists will have to tell some patients that they cannot get treatment under the NHS, even though this relatively inexpensive treatment could save their sight.

"It simply does not make sense - surely a proven treatment for a blinding eye condition should be available on the NHS to all who can benefit?"

"This determination will condemn thousands to sight loss every year. Individuals will have to spend their life savings to pay for the treatment privately, and society as a whole will have to pay the huge extra costs that blindness brings."

The RNIB is considering whether to appeal against the NICE decision.

However, the charity is concerned that appealing could result in a further delay in access to treatment for people who will now be entitled to PDT.

No decision

In a statement, NICE said no final decision on AMD had been taken.

Chief executive Andrew Dillon said "The independent group that advises us takes great care in interpreting the evidence and in listening to the patients, professionals and manufacturers who have something to say about the condition and its treatment.

"The RNIB had a fair hearing and it is regrettable that they should react in this way.

"As it stands the proposed guidance will benefit thousands of people who are currently being denied access to this treatment."