Aldridge man's life saved after an eye test
A man's life was saved after two bleeds on the brain were discovered during a trip to the opticians.
Michael Hannan, of Aldridge, is diabetic and experienced a change in his vision which he described as a spider's web coming across his eyes.
The 67-year-old called the NHS on 111 and was rushed to New Cross Hospital after the optometrist noticed his peripheral vision had decreased and a leakage of blood in the eye was spotted during an eye test at Specsavers on the High Street in Brownhills.
WATCH: How Michael's life was saved by his optician
A scan at the Wolverhampton hospital revealed two bleeds on the brain- a type of stroke- and he underwent an operation.
Mr Hannan said: "I’d been taking aspirin so was told I would need to wait at least five days until it was out of my system before they could operate.
"I was booked in to have the first operation on the following Tuesday which involved putting four holes in my head to fit two drains. It was three and a half hours before I came out of recovery and I stayed in hospital until the Friday. As I live on my own, I had to be assessed to make sure I was able to look after myself before returning home.
"I’ve recovered extremely well and I feel much better than I did. I’m hugely grateful to Specsavers for being able to see me at short notice and for the way in which they handled everything. If it wasn’t for their prompt action, the outcome could have been very different."
Graduate optometrist Anoop Rai said: "We’re delighted to hear that Mr Hannan’s operation was a success and he’s back at home now. We encourage everyone to have their eyes tested at least every two years, but as Mr Hannan’s case illustrates, if you notice a problem with your eyes or vision, you should make an appointment immediately."
While this is a rare complication of diabetes, Specsavers in Brownhills delivers services for Diabetic Retinal Screening on behalf of the Heart of England Foundation Trust. This enables people with diabetes to be routinely have examinations in the community to enable early detection of diabetic complications.
To make an appointment, visit Specsavers at 12-28 High Street, Brownhills, Walsall, WS8 6EQ, call 01543 363790 or go to www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/brownhills
