'I'm glad I went to Specsavers' Lancashire mum's devastating diagnosis at eye test
A Lancashire mum-of-three was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak with a risk of meningitis after having her first eye test in seven years.
Sarah Scorey, 35, visited Specsavers in Morecambe as her husband Darron needed his eyes tested.
While she was in store, she enquired about a new pair of prescription glasses for herself as she had misplaced her old pair.
When speaking with a member of staff, they discovered she hadn’t had an eye test in seven years – with both the staff member and husband recommending she get her eyes tested rather than using her old prescription, as it was likely out of date.
She opted to have a full eye test and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan, which takes images of the layers of the eyes and allows the optician to have a better picture of a person’s eye health.
It was during these scans that a grey mass was picked up behind her eyes, which suggested there was fluid there.
Sarah had been suffering from headaches and, prior to this, was diagnosed with cluster headaches and migraines by doctors.
Due to the concerning scans, she was referred to the ophthalmologist at the local hospital, and received a call to book an appointment by the time she’d returned home for the following day.
It was following tests at the hospital that she was diagnosed with intercranial hypertension, where spinal fluid was leaking into the brain cavity and causing the pressure in her head and optic disc swelling. This can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated.
As well as this, scans showed an infection in all four of Sarah’s sinuses and had already spread to the mastoid bone, which put her at risk of developing meningitis, hearing loss, and sepsis if left untreated.
Sarah was immediately referred to the ENT and neurology departments, undergoing a lumbar puncture which removed some of the fluid build-up in her brain cavity.
Doctors believe the issue was being caused by an underdeveloped jugular vein, which can lead to neurological issues such as headaches and vertigo, as well as vision and hearing issues.
Sarah is still undergoing tests to understand the full extent of the issues she’s having, but is grateful for Specsavers Morecambe discovering something was initially wrong.
She said: “I never expected to go into Specsavers for an eye appointment and have my life change so significantly. I’ve been put on red alert by doctors to not be left alone, as well as being deemed at high risk for strokes.
“At the moment, I’m looking at frequent lumbar punctures or surgery as my only treatment options, but they will likely only help with the symptoms rather than fixing the cause.
“I’ve had to quit working and even had to back out of my college course on massage therapy. It’s scary as even a massage could have put me in a coma due to my health issues.”
Sarah’s now resting at home, grateful that she can spend time with her three daughters, Taylor, 11, Amber, 10, and Lilliana, four, as well as Darron, 47, with a long medical journey ahead of her.
She added: “I can’t thank Specsavers enough. Nobody told me to get an eye test for my headaches, and if they had it could have been picked up two years ago.
“I didn’t realise what opticians actually test for and see, I thought it started and stopped at glasses and contact lenses.
“The OCT scan was vital for me, because if I was left untreated for much longer, I was at risk of developing meningitis, severe sight loss or even death if they hadn’t spotted the fluid that led me to the hospital.
“I’m incredibly lucky, it has put a lot into perspective. Specsavers saved my life.”
Karen McKeon, dispensing optician and director at Specsavers Morecambe, said: “A trip to the opticians is more than just a routine eye test, and Sarah’s story is a stark reminder of this.
“We’re glad that Sanya, one of our opticians, spotted that something wasn’t right with Sarah’s OCT scans and escalated her to our local hospital.
"We’re pleased that Sarah’s now getting the treatment she needs and we managed to catch her health issues before they deteriorated further, and we wish her the best of luck for her recovery.”
Specsavers recommend getting your eyes tested every two years – but if you notice any changes to your eyesight or suspect something may be wrong, then it’s advised to make an appointment as soon as possible.
For more information about the locally owned and run Specsavers Morecambe call 01524 405040 or go online at https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/morecambe