'I was terrified when I thought I might go blind'.
Ray Liggins lives with his wife Olive. He had already lost the sight of one eye due to wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and also had hearing problems. Following a stroke, his wife became reliant on him for a number of daily tasks.
'I'd already had to give up driving and worried about who would look after me and my wife Olive. Would we even be able to stay in our home together?'
Ray's local Primary Care Trust decided not to fund his treatment for wet AMD. Left untreated, wet AMD can lead to blindness in as little as three months.
How RNIB helped Ray
Ray came to RNIB for help to get treatment.
Each year there are 26,000 new cases of wet AMD in the UK. Following the AMD campaign led by RNIB, the government body NICE issued guidance, allowing Ray to get sight-saving treatment from the NHS.
'Since getting the treatment I've got a whole new lease of life. My sight has improved and I can drive again. I've taken up new hobbies and can enjoy looking after the grandchildren, rather than someone looking out for me.'
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