A new treatment for wet AMD was launched on 28th February, having been licensed in Ireland on Monday 12th February.

New Treatment

Lucentis is produced by Novartis and is injected into the eye of the patient. Clinical trials of Lucentis have been extremely positive and results have shown improved vision in 7 out of 10 patients who have been recently diagnosed with wet AMD and who do not have permanent damage to the retina. To date other treatments slowed or stabilised sight loss.

It is important to remember that Lucentis will only be suitable for certain patients and needs to be administered quickly after diagnosis for it to be effective. It is not a universal treatment for AMD or indeed for any other condition, particularly if a person has had the condition for some time.

Contact your ophthalmologist

Anyone who feels that they may benefit from Lucentis or any other AMD treatment should contact their ophthalmologist for advice in relation to the suitability and application of the treatment for them.

Availability

NCBI has been informed that the drug has been cleared by the Irish Medicines Board and the Department of Health. Lucentis is therefore available in the Irish health system to newly diagnosed public and private patients, subject to the discretion of the ophthalmologist regarding its prescription.

NCBI also understands that VHI will be announcing whether it will cover Lucentis in the coming weeks. Patients can also access the treatment privately. NCBI has written to the Department of Health seeking formal clarification regarding the availability of Lucentis on the General Medical Scheme.

NCBI Position

Des Kenny has been invited to the Lucentis launch next week to represent NCBI. Our official stance at the launch is below:

“Like most eye conditions, the earlier wet AMD is diagnosed the better. I cannot stress how important it is for anyone who notices a sudden change in their vision to go to an eye specialist for an examination. Speedy referral to a retinal specialist is essential for treating AMD, given that this disease can lead to legal blindness in just three months.

“The challenge now is for all of us to work together to ensure patients have access to the best treatments available in the market as quickly as possible. It is also important to note that while Lucentis will offer new hope for many there will of course be many more others for whom there is no treatment . It is for this reason that I would like to remind everyone here that NCBI provides advice, support and a range of services to people living with sight loss so they can continue to live independently.”

Please contact NCBI on 1850 33 43 53 for further information.