Brian Matthews is an independent consultant based in Croydon, UK. Previously, Dr Matthews was senior director, EC Registration at Alcon Labs, which he joined in 1992. Trained as a pharmacist, he previously worked for the British Pharmacopoeia Commission and the predecessor to the MHRA. Dr Matthews worked with British, European and international standards committees for many years, particularly on topics such as sterilisation (especially aseptic procession), contact lens care products, intraocular lenses, irrigation solutions, viscosurgical devices, Braille for pharmaceutical labelling and leaflets, phaecoemulsifiers. He is also an editor and contributor for books on pharmaceutical development, international pharmaceutical product registration, medical devices and excipients, and has authored papers on a wide range of pharmaceutical topics.