PATIENTS from south Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire being treated for Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in your visual field - are now receiving the care they need closer to home.

Since April 2016, nearly 1,000 patient visits have taken place with close to 500 treatment injections provided by the Wet AMD service at the Bro Preseli Community Care Resource Centre in Crymych.

This is in addition to weekly review clinics at Withybush Hospital that see up to 40 patients each week, and monthly clinics that ensure patients receive their clinically prescribed follow up appointments locally and as soon as possible.

To further complement this work, the day surgical unit at Withybush Hospital can now deliver a minimum of 25 treatment injections per week.

Previously, patients would have needed to travel to Amman Valley Hospital in Ammanford for the same treatment.

Joe Teape, deputy chief executive and director of operations at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Patients with Wet AMD are primarily elderly patients, often living in rural areas who have for some time had to travel to Amman Valley Hospital every four or five weeks for scans and injections.

“As well as improving the patient experience we hope that by providing this care will in time release much-needed theatre capacity at Amman Valley Hospital to meet our ever increasing demands for cataract procedures.”

One patient who has benefited from treatment being available closer to home is 77-year-old Jim Hughes.

“As a broadcast journalist my eyes are a most important factor in my role and it is well known that this condition can have a detrimental effect on your sight,” said Mr Hughes.

“It was noticed that I had some deterioration in my sight and I had laser treatment at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest. I must say that this type of treatment is a little frightening but the reassurance of the staff and consultant carrying out this procedure allayed any fears I had.”

Mr Hughes then needed a course of eye injections.

“This was obviously, again, very concerning for me and the thought of having a needle inserted into my eye was, again, a little frightening. There was no effect following the anaesthetic into the eye, or the injection, apart from a little soreness following the procedure.

“The situation has changed and these procedures are now being carried out at Haverfordwest. The procedure takes seconds and has totally been a success in my case and allowed me to continue life as normal.”