Patients losing their eyesight are facing a postcode lottery over accessing groundbreaking treatment for their condition.

While the drug Lucentis is already available in some of Scotland's board areas, it is yet to be introduced in key cities including Glasgow.

In June, the Scottish Medicines Consortium, the body which advises NHS Scotland on new treatments, backed the therapy ahead of any moves by England and the decision was applauded.

However, almost two months on, a number of health boards have still to make the injections available to patients.

Lucentis is described as the only treatment which has been shown in trials to improve vision in people suffering from the sight-loss problem known as wet age-related macular degeneration - or wet AMD.

In Scotland, some 2300 people are diagnosed with wet AMD every year and experts emphasise the importance of delivering the injections as early as possible because sufferers' vision can deteriorate rapidly.

However, while 25 patients looked after by NHS Forth Valley have already received Lucentis, along with a dozen in the NHS Lanarkshire region, clinicians have not been given the go-ahead to prescribe the drug by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Dr Michael Gavin, consultant ophthalmologist at Gartnavel General in Glasgow, said: "Unfortunately, there is a postcode lottery situation regarding patient access to Lucentis in Scotland.

"Patients in Ayrshire, Dumfries and Inverness all have access to treatment and have had for a number of weeks whereas in Glasgow patients still do not.

"I am pleased that the SMC approved the use of Lucentis on June 11 but it is disappointing that some local management teams still have not managed to put in place the required infrastructure to deliver the service."

He added that while eight weeks may not seem a long time to managers it was a frustrating wait for patients and doctors.

Dr Gavin said: "I think there is clear evidence that the earlier you treat wet AMD when the disease is active, the better the clinical outcome is likely to be so time is of the essence in terms of getting access to the treatment. Delays of the past almost two months since the SMC approved the drug will be unacceptable for a large number of patients."

There are other treatments for the condition, including a drug called Macugen which was approved for use in Scotland last summer. However, such alternatives are known to stabilise or slow the disease's progression, rather than improve eyesight.

A spokesman for the SMC, which estimated Lucentis could cost the health service more than £7.1m in the first two years, said: "Evidence suggests that Lucentis is the more-effective drug."

Among those who are waiting hopefully for the treatment is a former Glasgow GP, Dr William Matheson, whose eyesight started to deteriorate 18 months ago.

He told The Herald that he has had appointments to receive Lucentis cancelled.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People Scotland, which battled against a postcode lottery for Macugen last year, is concerned that a similar problem is emerging.

Bryn Merchant, assistant director of the institute in Scotland, said: "In cases of wet AMD it is vital that the best available drug is delivered as quickly as possible. Denying people sight-saving treatment on the grounds of cost is not only disastrous for the patient but leaves society with greater costs to bear in future."

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it launched a new service in March in response to the emergence of new medicines for wet AMD.

This currently prescribes Macugen and almost 80 eligible patients have received this treatment.

The spokeswoman continued: "Last month, the SMC accepted a second new medicine, Lucentis, for use in eligible patients with AMD.

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, in common with other boards, has been considering how this second drug should fit in with treatment options and it is anticipated that most patients in due course will move to using Lucentis.

"We have now completed our appraisal of the resources required to prescribe the drug and we anticipate we should be able to offer Lucentis to eligible patients within the next two weeks."

Draft guidance from Nice, the body which advises health authorities on new drugs in England, has caused uproar because it recommends Lucentis for only a minority of wet AMD patients. It also suggests the drug is given to sufferers only when both eyes are affected and then only in the better-seeing eye.