Member Article

Don’t neglect eye health warns Ross-on-Wye local, following sight-saving referral

An electronics engineer from Herefordshire is praising his local Vision Express store after a crucial referral for a detached retina saved his sight. The 60-year-old is now encouraging others not to put off having their eyes tested, as the national optician takes its Vision Van on the road for National Eye Health Week (18-24 September 2017).

Gerald Cook has appreciated the importance of prioritising eye health after his mum was diagnosed with glaucoma 25 years earlier. So, when he noticed a worrying change in his vision in March this year, the Ross-on Wye local knew not to ignore it.

“I was driving home from a gig one night – I play the saxophone in a concert band in Hereford – and my vision seemed a bit fuzzy,” Gerald explains. “Throughout the next morning, I kept seeing a shadow when I looked up to the right. I initially thought there was something on the outside of my eye but the speed it was growing made me suspicious.

“After calling Vision Express Hereford I was advised to go to the store immediately. I think they determined what could be wrong from the description I gave.”

Gerald was seen within an hour at the High Street optician, by optometrist Paul Royds. “Gerald had an inclination something was wrong so he thought it was better to come in and have it looked at, particularly as he was due to go on holiday the next day,” explains Paul. “Following a thorough eye examination, I could see what appeared to be a detachment without needing to dilate him, so I wrote him a letter and told him to go straight to the hospital.

“If we had delayed the referral, the retina could potentially have detached completely and he could have lost his sight.”

Paul informed Gerald that the fact he had undergone cataract surgery previously could have played a part in his retina detaching. He adds: “People who are extremely short-sighted, those who are older and anyone who has previously had cataract surgery are more prone to retinal detachment. It can also be caused by an injury or blow to the head or eye.”

Gerald was rushed directly to Hereford County Hospital’s eye clinic but unfortunately, it did mean he had to cancel his holiday. By half nine that evening, he had been prioritised up the surgery waiting list, to be operated on that night.

“It all happened so fast - by the time they came to operate, two thirds of the vision in my right eye had gone. Time was critical and even a couple more hours of waiting would have made a massive difference. In fact, I was told if I had left it another day, my vision could have been completely lost in that eye.”

The operation took two hours, during which doctors drained the eye, welded the retina back in place with lasers and inserted a gas bubble to help push the retina back into place. “I was awake but it was painless and it went very quickly,” explains Gerald. “The NHS was fantastic - the nurses even stayed on in the prep room without pay to help treat me.”

After a month’s recovery, Gerald returned to work and another month later, he was ready to drive again. While he still has sight in both eyes, he has noticed some changes in his vision and has been back to Vision Express to have it monitored. “It’s different for everybody and depends on how well it heals and how early it is caught,” he explains. “The brain manages to cope with the changes but it does take time to get used to it so I’m waiting a little longer before I update my glasses.”

Working for a company in Malvern, which provides scientific instruments that are used to measure particles, Gerald heavily relies on his vision: “I’m always working with lasers and I have to focus on very fine detail on the computer – circuit boards, Computer Aided Design, programming and such.

“When I was waiting to go in to see the consultant at the hospital, I sat there thinking, how am I going to drive or work? You suddenly realise how important your vision is and I think we all take it for granted until something like this happens.

“With my family history of glaucoma my vision has been under constant supervision and it’s made me concentrate on changes with my sight. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of staying on top of good eye health practices.”

Vision Express offers an eye test to best practice guidelines of the College of Optometrists (COO), with each Vision Express optometrist being a qualified eye health professional. To book an eye test at the Hereford store call 01432 342433, or visit 7/8 High Street, Hereford HR4 9AA.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Vision Express .