Ontario to Pay for Boy's Eye Treatment in U.S.

"The Ontario government is signalling that it will fund the treatment of a young boy with a rare, congenital eye disease," according to the Globe and Mail. "The Globe and Mail first reported on the story of Liam Reid, who turns three on Monday, and suffers from advanced bilateral persistent fetal vasculature syndrome (PFVS)/Norrie’s disease – a rare, congenital retinal condition that, if left untreated, would result in permanent blindness and the loss of both eyes by the age of four. Ontario had refused to pay for his treatment in the United States, even though doctors in Toronto said there was nothing more they could do for him." Read more.

Boy Going Blind While Bureaucrats Struggle

"Liam Reid’s family has struggled to pay for his care at a U.S. hospital while another boy with the same rare eye condition has received 49 treatments paid for by the Ontario government," notes the Toronto Star. "If Liam, nearly 3, does not receive surgery to correct the vision in his left eye, he will go blind before he is 4 years old, said his mother, Kristina Reid. Liam has a retinal condition called advanced bilateral persistent fetal vasculature syndrome or Norrie disease." Read more. Even so, it's better care than an American could get.