Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Wider access to drug to prevent and reverse eye damage

Manitobans now have wider access to a drug to prevent and reverse eye damage, Health Minister Theresa Oswald said Wednesday.

The drug Lucentis is now available through doctors' offices to treat wet macular degeneration.

Last March the province said Manitoba Health would cover Lucentis treatment though the Misericordia Eye Centre of Excellence as of June 1.

At that time the province said it wanted to expand patient access to Lucentis through other retinal specialists' offices.

Oswald said Lucentis is now accessible through doctors' offices ahead of schedule.

Wet macular degeneration is a disease that can impair vision and cause blindness.

Lucentis has been available at no cost to Manitobans with wet macular degeneration since June 1 through the Misericordia and Manitoba retinal specialists.

Manitoba Health says up to 1,000 patients could benefit from this new program annually.

 

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