RNIB lines up legal action over uveitis treatment shortage

Vision charity RNIB has weighed up legal action as patients in England are denied sight saving treatments freely available in Scotland for severe refractory uveitis.

It warned this week that adults and children with the rare eye condition might have to move north of the border to save their sight.

NHS England has refused to fund anti-TNF treatments Humira and Remicade for patients with severe refractory uveitis, an RNIB statement said.

Uveitis is one of the leading causes of sight loss in the UK and accounted for 10 per cent of Certification of Vision Impairment registrations, it added. The charity was collaborating with organisations including Olivia's Vision, Birdshot Uveitis Society (BUS) and Fight for Sight to highlight the possible impact.