A TREATMENT that can halt the onset of blindness is to be offered in the region.

Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust has been given approval to use photo dynamic therapy to treat patients with macular degeneration - the biggest cause of blindness in the Western world.

Gavin Walters, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Harrogate District Hospital, said the therapy would be available to patients across North Yorkshire.

He said: "We are delighted to be able to offer this effective treatment, which can stabilise the vision in patients with the classic type of wet macular degeneration in around 70 per cent of cases.

"Patients who undergo photo dynamic therapy will also be taking part in a national study to assess its effectiveness, which we hope will enable enhancements for future patient care."

Macular degeneration is most common in elderly peo-ple. The condition affects the central retina and causes problems with reading and recognising faces.

Photo dynamic therapy has not recently been available on the NHS, after new guidelines were published last year.

The therapy involves the injection of a photo sensitive dye, which becomes concentrated in any abnormal blood vessels in the eye.

A laser light is then applied that activates the dye and kills off the abnormal blood vessels.

Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust has teamed up with York Hospital NHS Trust to offer the therapy.

Patients will be assessed in Harrogate and then go to York for treatment.