Standard eye test at Bicester Specsavers revealed glaucoma early

Jane Singleton, a Fringford resident, had trouble reading number plates from far away so decided to book an appointment at her usual opticians.

During the appointment at Specsavers in Bicester, optometrist Sarah Marshall looked at the back of Ms Singleton's eye in a visual fields test and noticed some damage to the optic disc as well as a loss of peripheral vision (side vision).

Mc Marshall also noticed that her cataracts – a cloud over the lens which blurs vision – had grown and so referred the 80-year-old for further assessments.

Those tests revealed that there was high pressure in the back of her eyes and that she had Glaucoma – which if left for any longer could have left her blind.

Glaucoma usually happens when the naturally-occurring fluid in the eye doesn't drain properly.

When the fluid builds-up and causes pressure it can damage nerves at the back of the eye and cause irreversible damage and blindness.

Usually, there is no symptoms of the condition.

Ms Singleton said: "I knew I had cataracts but I was very surprised when the consultant told me I had glaucoma as well.

"I was given drops to put in to my eyes to help lower the pressure to treat my glaucoma but also so that I could have a cataract operation."

According to Specsavers, in Cherwell alone 1,510 people have Glaucoma.

She explained that she now needs to take eye drops everyday for the rest of her life, but says that she is 'delighted' to still have her eyesight.

She said: "To keep the pressure in the eye at a lower level I have to take the drops every day for the rest of my life but it means that I can manage the glaucoma. I’ve had some loss of peripheral vision but the outcome could have been much worse if it hadn’t been picked up.

"Losing my vision would have had a huge impact on my life so I’m just delighted it was spotted in time to be treated."

To make an appointment visit Specsavers.co.uk