Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Optician visit saved my sight
Hospital missed problem twice
A young Airdrie woman has praised her local opticians for identifying a sightthreatening condition.
Dawn Espie, 24, experienced headaches for almost three weeks. They became so severe she ended up wearing a neck brace to support her head.
Dental nurse Dawn visited the Airdrie branch of Specsavers after trips to A& E failed to resolve the problem.
Optician Andrew McGonagle examined her and spotted severe swelling on the optic nerve head at the back of both her eyes, with haemorrhaging due to the build-up of pressure around the brain.
Dawn was immediately referred to Monklands Hospital, where she was given morphine to ease the pain and treated with a lumbar puncture to relieve the pressure from her brain.
She said: “I woke up one morning with a headache and didn’t think much of it but when it persisted for several days I visited my doctor.
“I was diagnosed with a migraine and given painkillers.
“However, the symptoms developed to the point of crippling pain with double vision. I could hardly hold my head up.
“I went to A&E twice in the space of four days and, with no further diagnosis, my mum suggested getting my eyes tested.
“I was so grateful that Specsavers accommodated an emergency appointment and that they were able to identify the problem.
“Thankfully I was treated in time and have no lasting damage to my eyesight.”
Dawn received five lumbar punctures and is still on some medication but experienced no lasting effects to her vision.
Andrew McGonagle, store director at Specsavers Airdrie, said: “Dawn made the right decision to come and have her eyes checked.
“It allowed us to identify the swelling and refer her quickly.
“If left untreated Dawn could have had severe permanent damage to her sight as well as increasingly crippling headaches.
“Dawn’s diagnosis is a reminder of just how important it is to seek a professional opinion if you experience anything unusual. Don’t ignore warning signs.”
I was diagnosed with a migraine and given painkillers