David Norris (Independent)

I agree with the general sentiment that it is time we moved on. We have spoken at length about the dental situation but the optical situation is also significant. Three or four years ago I visited an optician seeking a change of prescription. The optician told me to see a specialist, which I did, and I was told that I had macular degeneration of the retina. In my case this is irreversible. When people from Fighting Blindness were briefing me I mentioned that I had the disease. They asked me if they could use me. I agreed and did a few advertisements and interviews for them. This led to much unjustified sentimentality. One of my neighbours said to me that I would do anything for a vote. This was not the case; I was rather embarrassed. I received an enormous number of cures, ranging from the perfectly sensible to the absolutely insane. The type of disease I have may take a long time to develop but it is irreversible at the present state of knowledge. There is a wet and dry version and I cannot remember which I have. The people from Fighting Blindness contacted me because the other type can be reversed but people need to check their eyes every year. If this is done as a result of our campaign, the eyesight of a significant number of people will be saved. We also ought to underline the significance of the eye check in terms of people's well-being.