Optometrist’s swift referral saved Karen’s sight

Opticians have the technology and expertise to correct sight problems. But they can also spot the signs of potentially dangerous tumours, as one lucky mum discovered

Asingle mother who had a lifethreatening tumour diagnosed following an eye test is on the road to recovery after dark days had her writing a goodbye letter to her eight-year-old daughter.

Karen Robins, 37, had been suffering from a range of ailments including headaches, fatigue, muscle stiffness, weight gain, an unquenchable thirst and loss of grip for some time and had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by her GP in 2015.

However, when Karen’s eyesight started to fail and her headaches developed into severe migraines, she booked an eye test at Vision Express at Cwmbran Shopping Centre.

Karen, a successful e-Bay business owner, explained: “I’ve never experienced pain like the migraines I had before I went to Vision Express – my daughter couldn’t even speak to me because the pain caused by the sound was unbearable.

“I’d also started sending parcels to the wrong people as my vision was deteriorating so much.”

Cristina Larner, optometrist at Vision Express Cwmbran, said: “Given Karen’s symptoms, I was extremely concerned and wanted every avenue explored.

“This included requesting immediate blood tests from her GP to rule out diabetes, as undetected this can cause changes health.

“When I reviewed Karen’s peripheral vision test results, I made an emergency referral to the ophthalmology department at the Royal Gwent Hospital as it revealed a partial blindness pattern that needed urgent investigation.”

Karen underwent extensive testing at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, which showed partial blindness in the outer half of her right and left visual field.

She was then booked in for an emergency MRI scan. It revealed a macroadenoma – a benign tumour – had formed around her pituitary gland.

“I was told I had five weeks until I went blind or the tumour burst, which would be life-threatening – it was terrifying,” Karen commented.

“It was such a stressful time. While I was awaiting my surgery I experienced a bleed inside the tumour, which could have proved fatal or could have taken my sight straightaway. to vision and eye

“Luckily, I actually regained some of my vision as a result but it just reinforced how precarious my situation was.”

Karen was referred to the University Hospital of Wales, where she underwent endoscopic neurosurgery and was in high dependency care for four days. She added: “The difference in my vision since I had the surgery is phenomenal. Colours are much brighter and around 90% of my vision has returned, which is amazing.

“As the pituitary gland produces many of the hormones that control essential body processes, the effects of the tumour are still running their course.

“I’m constantly thirsty, have shortterm memory loss, I can get extremely tired and I have been told to expect pain in my muscles for up to a year after surgery as they repair themselves – but I’m here, and alive.”

Karen celebrated the success of her surgery by buying her dream car – a BMW 1 Series – and vows to live life for the here and now, supported by her friends and family.

She added: “I’ll be forever grateful to Cristina at Vision Express for referring me so quickly – if the tumour had been left any longer I genuinely don’t know here.

“Before I had my surgery I wrote a letter to my daughter in case I didn’t make it.

“I’ve since ripped it up! If you’re concerned you might have any of the symptoms I had book an appointment straight away.”

Cristina commented: “As Karen has been a customer for many years, attending regular eye tests without any issues, I knew immediately that something was seriously amiss when I first examined her.

“This is why it is so important to get your eyes tested regularly, and if you’re worried about any unusual symptoms we’d urge you to stop by so we can see what might be going on.

“Eye examinations can pick up on so many conditions and ultimately save lives, so it’s very important not to delay making your appointment.”

Karen is looking forward to regaining her strength slowly so that she can start walking up the local mountains again, which she enjoys doing with her daughter.

She remains under the ophthalmology and endocrinology departments care at the Royal Gwent Hospital for monitoring as well as keeping to her regular eye tests at Vision Express. if I’d still be