h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Have you come across this in your travels/work?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1799772,00.html

Just wondered if you had an 'insiders' perspective on it.

Hi, it's not something I know much about. It's certainly not a proven effective treatment as the article implies. The main treatment of choice at the moment is PDT (photodynamic therapy) & even this does not have the magical effect that the media often portrays. Unfortunately most cases of AMD are 'dry' which currently is untreatable & many with 'wet' AMD are too bad to benefit from treatment by the time they are assessed.

There are all sorts of trials going on where I work & I guess this drug may be in one of them. It does sound iniquitous if it's only the expensive version that's up for consideration - I don't trust the morals of the drug companies, but I suspect there may be some truth in what they say e.g. suitability for ocular use compared with other use.

We frequently have people in who've read an article about someone (usually in the US) who's had some wonder treatment which has restored their eyesight. The facts are often less glorious.

I sometimes wonder how I'd feel if I had some similar devastating condition. Would I be philosophical & make the best of it, or be forever seeking out some cure, however zany?