Delays in eye treatments could prove costly, warns Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Nearly three quarters of patients with a blinding eye condition have to wait too long for treatment, according to findings by The Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Macular Society.

The organisations today said their research showed more resources were needed to treat elderly people with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A survey of ophthalmologists found that around 70 per cent of patients with wet AMD had to wait more than the recommended two weeks for their first sight-saving injection. Many also waited too long for follow up treatment.

Three quarters of ophthalmologists blamed medical staff shortages for the delays and more than half said that NHS managers did not give wet AMD a high enough priority, a statement said.