Eyesight of woman, 79, saved after surgery

A GRANDMOTHER from Yorkshire has undergone potentially life-saving surgery after an eye doctor helped to identify a serious condition.

Marie Jubb, 79, from Sheffield, visited her local Specsavers in Firth Park before Christmas with complaints that her eye did not feel right and was promptly checked by optometrist Phil Banton.

He identified abnormalities following the eye test and immediately referred Mrs Jubb to specialists at The Northern General Hospital.

She was diagnosed with amaurosis fugax – a symptom of a more serious underlying condition – where a patient loses vision in one or both eyes, sometimes experienced as a ‘curtain descending’.

Usually, sight loss only lasts for a few seconds or minutes and is most commonly caused by a blockage in the carotid artery which can be extremely serious, putting the patient at risk of a stroke.

Mrs Jubb underwent a series of tests at hospital and was diagnosed with a blocked carotid artery, which could prove fatal if left untreated.

After being taken to surgery the next day, the block was removed by specialists.

Mrs Jubb said: “I personally can’t thank Phil at Specsavers enough. I visited Specsavers, Firth Park late last year as I felt something wasn’t quite right. Phil immediately referred me to hospital.

“I was a little shocked about the potential severity of the diagnosis, but the doctors were great, and I had an operation to clear the blockage the next day.

“It’s all sorted now and I’m especially pleased I did not delay my trip.”

Mr Banton added: “As a patient of mine for some 15 years, I knew something wasn’t quite right for Mrs Jubb. The subsequent surgery was certainly sight-saving and potentially saved her life.”