Importance of routine eye-tests highlighted as Worcestershire woman’s check up discovers something far more serious

THE IMPORTANCE of regular eye tests have been highlighted by a Worcestershire woman whose dangerously high blood pressure was discovered by her optician.

Janet Salisbury, aged 86, visited Specsavers in Evesham for a routine two-year appointment and was seen by store director and optometrist, Amit Rana who carried out a full eye examination.

This included an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan which allows for a more detailed examination of the back of the eyes.

The examinations showed a small bleed at the back of Janet’s left eye, which can be a sign of more serious conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, so was referred to her GP for further tests.

She visited her GP a few days later and had her blood pressure measured, which was dangerously high at 200/110 mmHg. For a person her age it should be 150/90mmHg when measured by a healthcare professional. It was then that her doctor discovered her current medication wasn’t working as it should be.

“My blood pressure has been high in the past, so I take medication and check it regularly,” Janet said. “Had it not been for this eye test, I wouldn’t have known that I needed a different prescription. Fortunately, I was able to try an alternative medication so it’s now under control.”

---

---

“When Amit showed me the results of the scan, I was quite worried. My mum had experienced a burst blood vessel behind her eye which eventually caused her to lose her sight, so I was grateful to Amit for spotting the bleed when he did,” she added.

Amit said he was delighted to hear that Janet’s blood pressure has been reduced and that it is being closely monitored.

“Lots of people don’t realise that an eye test isn’t just about assessing your vision and her story really helps demonstrate that,” he said.

“We recommend that everyone has their eyes tested at least every two years, unless you are experiencing any symptoms or issues with your vision, in which case you should visit your optician sooner.”

Undiagnosed high blood pressure or hypertension is known as the ‘silent killer’ as it often presents with no noticeable symptoms.

If not treated it can increase risk of serious conditions such as stroke, heart disease, vascular dementia and kidney disease.

According to Government figures it is estimated that up to 4.2m people living in England and Wales may be living with it.