IF you haven’t had an eye test for a while, you may want to book an appointment with an optician after reading today’s front-page story.

For if anything highlights the need to have our eyes checked regularly, it’s the tale of Frank Banks.

Mr Banks visited optometrist Ann Swankie for an eye examination that was supposed to be routine but proved to be anything but.

Mrs Swankie suspected a retinal bleed and referred Mr Banks to a doctor. He was then sent to hospital, where the treatment he received saved his sight.

It’s no wonder Mr Banks felt like bringing Mrs Swankie a bouquet of flowers afterwards.

Mrs Swankie was in fact just doing her job – albeit doing it spectacularly well.

We’d like to think that any optician would have done the same in her situation.

Because Mr Banks’ case reminds anyone who needs reminding that opticians are far more than just sellers of spectacles. They’re actually highly trained medical professionals who know everything there is to know about something that is very important to all of us – our eyesight.

And as Mr Banks discovered, they also know when something is not quite right. From glaucoma to cataracts, retinal detachment to macular degeneration, there are many conditions that can affect the quality of our vision – or in extreme cases lead to us losing it completely.

Mr Banks was lucky in that he was already scheduled to see an optician and his serious condition was picked up by an expert.

Those of us who do not have regular eye tests may not find out we have a problem until it is too late.