A ROUTINE eye test at Specsavers in Kidderminster ended up saving the sight of a teenager after a potentially serious neurological condition was spotted.
It began when 17-year-old Rebekah Chiad was taken for an eye test at the opticians in The Swan Centre after her mum Sarah noticed her daughter was struggling with headaches and increased fatigue.
Despite it being only 14 months since Rebekah’s last routine examination, they were seen by optometrist Christopher Robinson, who has been testing the family’s eyes for years.
Sarah said: “We always love visiting Chris, he’s a safe pair of hands and is so thorough.
“He’s also so empathetic and understanding which really helped given the results of Rebekah’s eye test.”
During the examination, Chris spotted signs which concerned him and urgently referred Rebekah for further investigation at Kidderminster Hospital.
Chris said: “Having seen Rebekah so recently, we were able to make a really clear comparison between the pictures we had of her optic nerve from her last eye test and how it looked on the day.
“I could see an almost haze around the optic nerve and it also appeared raised in the images – this combined with her headaches and changes to her vision were enough of a red flag for me to want her to get checked out.”
Within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital, Rebekah was referred to the same-day doctor at Worcester Hospital.
They immediately did a CT scan and while Rebekah and Sarah we were sent home afterwards, they were told she likely had Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.
She had a lumbar puncture the next morning, which confirmed the diagnosis.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a condition where pressure inside the skull increases without an obvious cause.
It can lead to vision loss if left untreated, making early detection critical.
Sarah said: “Rebekah is so much better now.
“It was amazing how quickly the lumbar puncture got to work, the relief was almost instant.
“We were told she may have headaches or backache after the lumbar puncture, but luckily she hasn’t had either.
“The fatigue has gone, she’s back to college and her energy has returned which as her mum is so wonderful to see.”
Sarah is now urging others to ‘listen to their bodies and what their children are telling them’.
“When it’s your own child, you really can’t put a price on getting checked and being sure. Chris said he was just doing his job, but it meant so much more to us.”
Chris added: “I’m so glad Rebekah came to see us when she did and that she feels more like her old self again.
“Being able to help people is an incredibly rewarding part of my job, spotting signs that can make a real difference to someone’s life.
“Cases like this highlight the importance of getting your eyes checked if you notice any differences, even if you’re not due for a test.
“While most of us experience headaches at times, in the vast majority of cases they are nothing to worry about.
“But it’s always worth getting things checked if you’re concerned.”
Visit the store in Sainsbury’s for more information or to book an eye or hearing test.
Alternatively, call 01562 754241 or visit: specsavers.co.uk/stores/kidderminstersainsburys to book online.
