Optician visit after 15 years saved my sight

A RETIRED banker has had his eyesight saved after his first visit to an optician in 15 years.

Scott Anderson was diagnosed with a pituitary brain tumour, which can permanently damage the eyesight if left undiagnosed, following a long-overdue check-up.

Mr Anderson, 62, had been experiencing headaches and deteriorating vision for a few weeks before going to KD Wallace Optometry on Queensferry Road.

After extensive tests, optometrist Kevin Wallace could find nothing actually wrong with his eyes, so referred him to a neurologist, fearing a tumour.

Within days, the diagnosis was confirmed and Mr Anderson underwent an operation which saved his vision.

Mr Anderson, from Blackhall, had corrective laser eye surgery about 15 years ago, which had stopped him from getting regular check-ups.

He is now urging everyone to make sure they visit their optician regularly, even if they do not have vision problems.

He said: "I am embarrassed to recognise that it has been about 15 years since I last went for an eye test. I go to the dentist every six months, but eyesight is much more important and lots of people just ignore it and don't bother going for eye tests. The condition of your eyes can be an indication of all sorts of things.

"There's no doubt that the advice I got from the optician to see a neurologist is the best advice I have ever had."

He added: "I did a lot of research into the condition afterwards because I had never heard of it before and apparently a spurt of growth of the tumour puts pressure on the optic nerve, and if it isn't treated it can lead to permanent damage.

"The worrying thing is that in most cases people experience very gradual deterioration of the vision, which many people would just put down to old age or poor eyesight, but the longer it continues, the more scope there is for damage."

Mr Wallace, who is also the optometric advisor to NHS Lothian, said: "His vision had gone downhill quite quickly - within a week he had gone from reading well to not being able to read at all.

"Normally these things happen quite slowly, but his happened quite quickly. If you don't catch it quickly, it grows and causes headaches and loss of vision."

He added: "Eye tests can pick up a lot more than just whether or not you need glasses.

"All eye examinations are paid for by the NHS. It's important people aren't scared away by thinking they'll have to pay."