Member Article

Dad warns people to have regular eye tests

National Eye Health Week takes place 21 – 27 September 2015. Eye care charities, organisations and health professionals from across the UK are joining together to promote the importance of eye health and the need for regular sight tests for all.

But it’s amazing what other aspects of general health can be revealed by a good eye examination – as Jonathan’s story reveals.

Jonathan Connor (46) from Boldon has had a very lucky escape with his sight – and potentially his life – but was saved in the nick of time by his optician!

Like many people of his age, Jonathan had started to wear glasses for reading and was used to regular eye tests at the Big Optician in Newcastle.

So when he noticed a strange image in his left eye one Friday night - although initially he thought it might have been a dodgy pint - he called his optician first thing the next morning – a Saturday.

Saturdays and Sundays are popular days for appointments at the Big Optician and although they were fully booked, they managed to squeeze Jon in as they were worried about his symptoms.

Jonathan saw Optometrist Keith Little who gave Jon’s eyes a thorough examination.

Keith was very alarmed to find that the optic nerves in both of Jonathan’s eyes were very swollen. This can be an indication of a number of serious, life-threatening conditions and Keith urged Jonathan to make an appointment at either the Royal Victoria Infirmary or Sunderland Eye Infirmary immediately.

Jonathan was initially reluctant as one of his children was having a birthday party that day but when Keith reiterated the potentially serious nature of his condition and the importance of urgent medical attention, he agreed.

Due to the critical nature of Jonathan’s symptoms, an appointment was made at Sunderland Eye Infirmary that same day and after numerous tests, all carried out as a matter of urgency, a condition called Intercranial Hypertension was diagnosed.

Acute Intercranial Hypertension can be fatal if it is not treated promptly as a medical emergency. It means there is abnormally high pressure inside the skull, which may happen suddenly or build up over time.

Intercranial Hypertension may be suspected if patients have signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, such as vision problems and headaches but sometimes there are few symptoms.

Jonathan is now in good health. He takes ongoing medication for his condition and is regularly monitored by specialists.

He says: “I’ve been so lucky, firstly that my optician could see me that Saturday morning, and secondly that he realised the seriousness of the condition and insisted that I went to hospital that day! Otherwise I daren’t think what might have happened. Taking ongoing medication is nothing compared to losing my sight – or worse! Sunderland Eye Infirmary were also fantastic and everything was arranged so quickly and efficiently.”

Keith Little, Optometrist says: “Although we would always urge people to have regular eye examinations for their general eye health, it’s surprising what other aspects of general health can be revealed by a good eye test! Sometimes eye examinations can detect serious medical conditions before a client experiences any symptoms at all. Examples include diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure); hypotension (low blood pressure); pituitary problems including tumours; multiple sclerosis; and kidney disease. Jonathan has been very fortunate!”

For more information on The Big Optician, please go to www.thebigoptician.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kate Slater .