UK NEWS

EYE PATIENTS FACE HEART ATTACK THREAT

Jack Tagg: Won fight for treatment

Thursday February 28,2008

By Victoria Fletcher

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Half a million Britons with a common eye disease are also at risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.

As their condition worsens, people become five times more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack and 10 times more at risk of a deadly stroke.

The drugs used to treat the eye condition could even boost the risk, according to a new study.

Age-related macular degeneration – or AMD – is a key indicator that these potentially fatal conditions are on the way, according to the study of more than 3,600 patients. It found that those under 75 diagnosed with AMD have double the risk of dying within the next 10 years.

AMD is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK and more than 20,000 people are newly diagnosed with wet AMD each year.

The study, published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, said the disease could be caused by the same health problems that go on to trigger heart attacks and strokes. The University of Sydney research involved analysing 3,654 people aged over 49 when the study began in 1992-94.

The experts were concerned that some types of treatment for AMD, known as anti-VEGF treatments, could increase the risk, but said more research was needed.

Last night, Ellen Mason of the British Heart Foundation said: “Everyone should do their best to reduce known risks, such as stopping smoking, reducing blood pressure, being more active, and losing weight if necessary.”

War hero wins fight for sight

A war hero who was refused medical aid to save his sight has won his battle for treatment.

Second World War bomber pilot Jack Tagg, 88, of Torquay, Devon, feared he would go blind before receiving treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition, which attacks central vision.

But after a campaign championed by the Daily Express that saw him march on 10 Downing Street to deliver more than 200 cheques worth £1,000 made out to the Prime Minister, Torbay Primary Care Trust agreed to pay for the treatment after it admitted not properly advising him of an appeal procedure.

Jack has now vowed to fight to help others.

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BLIND EYE SPECIALIST

28.02.08, 10:36am

My 70 year old Dad recently went to an eye specialist as he suddenly found his eyes were blurred to such an extent that he couldn't read a paper or see well enough to drive. He has been a professional driver all his life, recently bought a caravan, so for him to stop driving means he definately has a problem!
On visiting this 'specialist' he was told that there was nothing wrong and that his eyes haven't changed in 2 years!

I think, that this specialist was really saying 'at your age, we don't want to waste money on treating you, so there is nothing wrong'.

NO, we can treat half the world that turn up in our country for free but we can't treat the very people that have spent their lives paying into the system.

The whole political system in this country is utterly corrupt, and it is them that create these insidious rules and are abusing the health of our elderly.

GET RID OF THIS GOVERNMENT NOW!

• Posted by: Jac16 • Report Comment