New guidance for people with suspected AMD

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published new guidance for people with suspected late age-related macula degeneration (AMD).

The new guideline aims to ensure that the 600,000 people in the UK that are affected by AMD receive a prompt diagnose and fast access to effective treatments.

Late AMD (wet active) is the most damaging form of AMD - ageing changes that occur in the central area of the retina (macula) that affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities - and can lead to a rapid worsening of vision.

The guideline recommends that people with suspect late AMD (wet active) should be referred to a macula service within one working day.

It also recommends that those with the condition are offered anti-vascular endothelial growth actor (anti-VEGF) drugs within 14 days of referral to the macula service.

NICE also recommends on non-drug strategies to manage AMD, including group-based rehabilitation and referring people to low-vision services.

It says NHS organisations should compare their current practice with these recommendations and consider what changes may need to be made to put them into practice.

Mark Baker, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said: “AMD can be a life changing condition for people if it is not identified early on. There are around 26,000 new cases of wet AMD in the UK each year and if left untreated over half will become visually impaired or blind within three years. Therefore the need to provide timely diagnosis and treatment is important.”