CNIB applauds Alberta government approval of new treatment for leading cause of vision loss
Edmonton - CNIB congratulates the Alberta government for the recent decision to include Lucentis, a groundbreaking treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), under the provincial drug benefit list. The decision means Lucentis is now covered by provincial supplemental health plans.
Wet AMD is an eye condition that causes severe and rapid loss of central vision. It currently affects 100,000 people in Canada, and every week 60 more Canadians lose their sight because of the disease.
“Until now, a diagnosis of wet AMD would almost certainly lead to significant vision loss or blindness,” said CNIB Alberta Executive Director Cathy McFee. “There are some treatments that can slow the progression down or maybe stop it; but, there is only one treatment proven not only to arrest it, often to reverse its progression.”
McFee adds, “CNIB thanks the Government of Alberta for making treatment by Lucentis available under the drug plan to anyone who needs it in our province. This decision will prevent vision loss – and preserve the vision of so many people – especially seniors – with wet AMD.”
Approved for use in Canada in 2007, Lucentis is the brand name for the drug Ranibizumab which is delivered by injection to the eye every four to six weeks. It is the first clinically proven treatment that has been shown to prevent further vision loss in 95% of people with wet AMD and, in fact, reverse vision loss for 40% of those treated.
The decision to cover Lucentis by the Alberta government is forward-thinking. By stopping the progression or reversing vision loss, this treatment will save Alberta taxpayers millions of dollars every year.
A recent study, commissioned by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and CNIB, reported that vision loss costs Albertans over $1.5 billion a year. The direct health costs of vision loss are $817 million a year, a figure which includes hospitalization and treatment, drugs, vision care and research. Another $685 million is attributed to care and rehabilitation, assistive devices, lost productivity and earnings.
For more information, please visit www.cnib.ca or contact:
Ellie Shuster, Director, Regional Communications 780-453-8306 or 780-909-0525
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