When 24-year-old Matthew moved to Reading at the beginning of 2024, he couldn’t have imagined how drastically his life would change just a few months later. In April 2025, Matthew lost almost all of his sight after being diagnosed with a brain tumour. He has no light perception in his right eye and can only see light and vague shapes in his left. He is now registered as severely sight impaired.

Understandably, the sudden loss of his vision was overwhelming. “Those first few weeks were a blur of confusion,” Matthew recalls. “There was so much information to process and so many adjustments to make, all while I couldn’t see.”

What followed was an emotional journey, one that Matthew describes as moving through the five stages of grief. “It felt like losing yourself, almost,” he says, reflecting on those early days when fear and uncertainty overwhelmed him.

The Shock of Sudden Change

In the immediate aftermath, Matthew struggled not only with the practical challenges of sight loss, but also with its emotional toll. He found himself worrying about his independence, his future family, and whether he would be able to support himself. “I had those fears — will I ever have my own money? Will I be able to look after potential future children?” he says.

Those closest to him wanted to help, but often weren’t sure how. “In the early days, everyone was sort of on eggshells around me,” he remembers. “Talking slightly differently, treating me slightly differently…” What he needed most was to be spoken to like the same person he had always been.

A Lifeline: Berkshire Vision Steps In

While Matthew was still in hospital, nurses referred him to Berkshire Vision.

Cara, our Sight Loss Support Officer, contacted him and within weeks visited him at home when he felt ready to talk. “Having Berkshire Vision there to help me work through those stages and understand these things was really important to me,” Matthew says. “They get it. They understand people and the issues that come with sight loss.”

Cara supported Matthew through the maze of benefits, practical adjustments, and emotional challenges that came with sight loss.

“For me, Berkshire Vision’s support was life‑changing,” Matthew says. “When you lose your sight, the amount of information you have to take in is overwhelming. Berkshire Vision gave me the tools and the confidence to move forward.”

With Cara’s support, alongside the Technology and Equipment team and the Employability team, Matthew began to rebuild his sense of independence.

Redefining What’s Possible

One of Matthew’s biggest early fears was that his career dreams were no longer achievable. Teaching, something he had always wanted to pursue, felt impossible at first. But Berkshire Vision’s team quickly reassured him.

Working with Jenna from the Employability team, Matthew began preparing applications and exploring the adjustments available to him. With their support, he is now planning to begin teacher training.

“Caring. Understanding. They Get It.”

When asked to describe Berkshire Vision in a single word, Matthew laughs. “One word is difficult, I don’t think that’s a fair question.” Instead, he offers several:

Caring. Understanding. Benevolent.

And above all, “They get it.”

Matthew has shared his story as part of our new film that highlights the work we do. You can watch it here. https://youtu.be/2DLlxaFcVmY?si=ANI_Ckezrl38cs_3