In January 2011 Matthew underwent an emergency operation to repair a torn retina in his right eye. If the operation had not taken place he would have lost the sight in that eye. In September 2014 he experienced the same trauma in his other eye - which again required treatment.
As a result of his first experience the Hendon MP became actively involved with several sight related issues in Parliament. He spoke in an Adjournment debate on the use of Avastin in age related macular degradation, campaigned for oral warnings on 'silent' hybrid vehicles, and sought changes in the law so that an attack on a guide dog is considered as an attack on its owner. He welcomed the opportunity to open the Optegra Eye Hospital in Colindale, urged constituents to have regular sight tests, and lobbied Barnet's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to ensure there are enough funds to cover the demand for cataract operations.
Parliament rises for the Christmas Recess this Thursday 18th December and Matthew intends to speak in the Adjournment Debate to raise the issue of Eye Clinic Liaison Officers (ECLOs). Across England ECLOs help patients and their families to understand their diagnosis when someone loses their sight. They provide information and support, including referrals to other services. However, only 30 per cent of eye clinics in the UK currently have some kind of qualified support in place.
Matthew said: "Eye health has become an important issue for me and my personal experience has led me to work on many related issues. I have been contacted by a significant number of constituents who have told me of their own eye health problems and encouraged me to continue my efforts in this area.
“On two occasions I have sat in hospitals facing the reality that I could lose my sight, a prospect that is frightening for anyone who has to experience it. Sight loss has a huge impact upon the lives of those who suffer such a loss and upon their families. I believe that the expansion of ECLOs across the country would be a comparatively small financial price to pay for a service whose benefit cannot be measured in monetary amounts."
Matthew continued: "It is ironic that the day after the debate I - and several hundred other people - will again face the prospect of losing their eyesight without any clinical support. Some people will have corneal replacements, some will have vitreo-retinal procedures, and some will have glaucoma operations or canaloplasty. In my case I will have cataract operations on both eyes. It was intended to separate the operations but an appointment became available and, due to Parliament’s Christmas break, I have agreed to go ahead with both operations on the same day.”
A side effect of retina vitrectomy operations, as undergone by Matthew, is that it can cause cataracts. In Matthew’s case it caused a partial one in his right eye and most recently a full one in his left eye and the second has necessitated the clinical need to operate.
Photo: At Optegra Eye Hospital in Colindale