Saturday 13 August 2022 10:07 PM New £800-a-dose jab offers hope for diabetics suffering macular oedema trends now
A drug that can save diabetics from going blind is now being offered on the NHS. Brolucizumab treats fluid build-up in the eyes – called diabetic macular oedema – that can lead to blurred vision and, eventually, loss of sight.
Currently, diabetics with the condition have to attend hospital every six to eight weeks for injections of other drugs into the eyes that block the formation of weak and leak-prone blood vessels.
But with brolucizumab – which costs £800 a dose privately – patients will need a session only once every three months, while trials show it is also better at slowing the progression of long-term problems.
A drug that can save diabetics from going blind is now being offered on the NHS
Mr Winfried Amoaku, consultant ophthalmologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘When I first saw the results of the trial, I was ecstatic.
‘The introduction of brolucizumab will change patients’ lives.’
Diabetic macular oedema – an oedema is a build-up of fluid which can happen anywhere in the body – is the most common cause of vision loss among working-age adults, affecting about 22,000 Britons every year.
It occurs when raised blood sugar levels caused by diabetes damage tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye which then leak fluid into the macula – a tiny section responsible for colour and detailed vision.
Symptoms include blurred vision, washed-out colours and difficulty seeing in the dark.
Over time, cells in the macula are overwhelmed by fluid and begin to die. This damage, if left untreated, is irreversible and causes blindness. It usually takes several years to reach this point, so annual screening is offered to all diabetics over the age of 12 to nip any problems in the bud.
Brolucizumab, injected directly into the eyes, blocks a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and
