I thought I had a hangover but I was going blind
Eye test saved Hairy Biker’s sight
Simple trip to optician can save sight Dave had just married Liliana when he had eye scare Dave & TV partner Si “Life was being good to me at the time. I’d got married. My career was going great guns. “As a chef my sense of taste and smell are extremely important. But of all the senses, sight is the one I’d fear losing most. “My work is my passion so it’s impossible to imagine doing all the things I love if I couldn’t see – riding my bike, reading an autocue or preparing dishes.” Glaucoma is caused when fluid damages the optic nerve. Treatment can’t restore eyesight but can prevent it getting worse. Dave said: “I put a drop in each eye last thing at night. That’s no real hardship and something I do punctiliously.” Dave now gets his eyes checked once a year in hospital and has a full examination by an optician every other year. And he says everyone should do the same. “With glaucoma there are no symptoms. It’s no accident it’s known as the silent thief of sight. “By the time you’re aware of it, you may have intense eye pain, nausea, vomiting and blurred vision. “Most of us go to the dentist once a year. So why are we so slack about a simple eye test? “It doesn’t hurt and it just might – as it did for me – save you from potential blindness.” The chef is about to embark on a road trip across British Columbia with Si. He said: “That wouldn’t be possible if my early onset glaucoma had gone unchecked. “I’m on an incredible journey – and I don’t want it to end.” scoops@sundaymirror.co.uk
An eye test doesn’t hurt and might – as it did for me – save you from blindness HAIRY BIKER DAVE MYERS ON WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK ONE