A LORRY driver’s visit to a Bromsgrove opticians saved his sight after a detached retina was detected.
Steve Hughes noticed his vision was not as good as usual and thought he needed new glasses so booked an appointment at Specsavers in the High Street.
At the store he was seen by graduate optometrist Aleena Mohammed who carried out a full eye examination, using an OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) machine.
The high-tech equipment provides a detailed structural scan of the eye, including layers which would not normally be visible using traditional eye testing techniques.
Steve said: “I just imagined that my prescription had changed as I’d not had any untoward symptoms, so when Aleena said she would need to refer me to hospital as she suspected a detached retina, I was really shocked.”
Steve went to Birmingham Eye Hospital the following morning, where doctors confirmed the diagnosis and said he needed surgery right away.
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye is responsible for receiving light and translating it into electrical signals to send to the brain, where it creates the images we see.
Steve added: “I was incredibly lucky as the doctors advised I could have lost my sight in that eye if I’d delayed seeing my optician.
“It really has brought home the importance of not neglecting your health, especially during the lockdown when perhaps you might put off these types of visits.”
Steve is now at home recuperating and his vison is slowly returning to normal.
Aleena said: “Cases like Mr Hughes’ highlight how you shouldn’t put off any concerns with your vision – even during the lockdown restrictions.
“We’d encourage anyone who is worried about their sight or hearing to check with their local optician or audiologist.”
In line with NHS recommendations, Specsavers colleagues use personal protective equipment (PPE) throughout the stores, wear face masks and other PPE during tests, and all testing equipment and frames are thoroughly sanitised before and after each use.
Appointments need to be made in advance and there are also restrictions on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time, strict social distancing rules and, where possible, card should be used rather than cash.
Visit specsavers.co.uk/stores/bromsgrove for more information.
