Saved from going blind

Frank Banks recently took a bouquet of flowers to optometrist Ann Swankie at Specsavers in Broad Street, Worcester, to say thank you for her swift action which prevented him going blind. The 78-year-old, of Buttermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester, attended the optician for a routine eye examination in December after he noticed his vision had become cloudy.

During the examination, his optician, Ann Swankie, suspected a retinal bleed and contacted his GP surgery, Albany House Surgery in Worcester, before he was referred to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester.

Within an hour Mr Banks was at the hospital where the diagnosis was confirmed.

Optometrists have said it would be hard to say exactly how quickly Mr Banks would have gone blind, but without urgent care it was inevitable.

He said: “My eyesight is still hazy but it hasn’t got any worse. I would have gone blind and had pain at the back of my eye if I hadn’t had it treated.

“I had wonderful treatment and I think the staff at the hospital and at Specsavers are wonderful. They were really quick off the mark. I’m already partially blind in my left eye. I would have been completely blind if they hadn’t been so quick.

“I hadn’t realised just how serious the problem was and if it hadn’t been for my wife in the first place, insisting I go to Specsavers - I would be totally blind now. I now understand how vital it is that you regularly check the health of your eyes.”

Mrs Swankie - who has worked as an optometrist in Worcester for more than 10 years - said: "Helping Mr Banks is a tremendously rewarding part of my job as an optometrist.

"It highlights the point that everyone should have regular eye examinations at least every two years to ensure the on-going health of their sight is maintained."

Mr Banks had laser treatment on both eyes although they were unable to save the sight in his left eye, he can still see out of his right.