Optician visit a stroke of luck for Maureen

something wasn’t right with my vision and I was experiencing crippling headaches throughout the week,” she said.

“Initially, I thought my prescription needed updating but when I visited the store and explained my symptoms, they gave me an appointment immediately.

“I thought I’d get a quick eye test and my prescription would be waiting for me when I returned from my cruise with my husband.

“Unfortunately the outcome was more sinister.”

Her optometr i st told Maureen her visual impairment was not limited to her left eye but that she had experienced significant loss of vision in both eyes.

Maureen added: “Looking back, I had shimmering in my eye and nausea but I thought either my prescription was out of date or I had the onset of a migraine.”

Maureen was sent to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where she had a CT scan.

The exploratory procedure revealed she’d had a mini-stroke.

The condition is caused by a temporary disruption in the blood supply to part of the brain. The prompt diagnosis meant the granny was put on a course of medication.

Her optometrist Hanin Al- Rahho, who works at Specsavers in the Forge, Glasgow, insisted Maureen’s case was extremely rare.

She said: “Maureen was one of the unfortunate few.

“When the extent of her visual impairment became clear, particularly in her peripheral vision, I knew very quickly that I would need to refer her to A&E.

“Cases like this are rare but do illustrate the fact that a visit to the opticians can detect signs of a vast number of conditions.”

Maureen added: “I owe my life to the opticians.

“If I hadn’t received my appointment so quickly, the chances are that I could have died on that plane.