Alan’s life saved by eagle-eyed optician
Leaking brain shunt spotted during annual sight test
A ROUTINE trip to the optician’s saved a Scots schoolboy’s life.
At the start of the summer holidays, Alan Watson went to the opticians for his annual eye test.
The next day, the 12-year-old was undergoing emergency brain surgery to repair damage to a leaking shunt – thanks to the vigilance of his Optical Express optician Amna Bashir.
Alan, who will celebrate his 13th birthday on Wednesday, attended his local clinic in Cameron Toll, Edinburgh, with his mum Carmen Anderson.
Amna noticed something amiss in his brain when she photographed the back of his eye and arranged for the hospital to see him that day.
Consultants at Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital carried out tests. They showed a shunt he’d had in his brain since he was an infant to treat hydrocephalus – which causes extra fluid on the brain – had broken. It could have proved fatal.
Carmen said: “I am so glad we didn’t miss his yearly test. The optician told me she could see swelling in the brain but she was so calm I didn’t panic.
“I thought it was maybe because of his hydrocephalus. I had no idea how serious it was. With hindsight, it is scary because if we had never gone to the opticians we don’t know how it would have shown up – worst case scenario was it could have been fata. But even if it wasn’t, it could have had long-term effects on his brain.”
The family praised Amna’s quick thinking in getting the Gracemount High School pupil referred to hospital.
Carmen said: “The optician saved Alan’s life. It shows how important these regular check-ups are.” Alan is now back to full health, Carmen added: “He is back to his usual nippy self. We are extremely thankful to Amna and the surgeons at the hospital for the quick response and care.”
Jo Wright, from Optical Express, said: “Situations like Alan’s highlight the importance of ensuring children regularly attend their eye tests.”