Opticians say eye tests can spot many problems

Sonia Davies, 43, was suffering from severe headaches and decided to visit optician Umesh Mistry for an eye test.

He noticed something was wrong and referred Sonia to hospital where specialists discovered a golf ball-sized tumour behind her left eye.

"I am grateful every day - I have grandchildren I would have never seen," she said.

'Still tired'

Sonia, from Theddingworth near Market Harborough, said it was her first-ever visit to the optician.

We are the first port of call - if there is something there we will pick it up Optician Umesh Mistry

"I would urge everyone to have an eye test - whether it is your first time or a return visit I would never every go without an eye test again.

"I had severe headaches and thought it was eyestrain from computers so I made an appointment with the optician.

"As it was my very first eye test I didn't think anything was wrong - but he put some drops in and waited 20 minutes - then had another look in my eye and he asked me where my closest A and E was.

"I had a cat scan and MRI and I knew something was wrong."

She had life-saving surgery less than a week later.

"It is three years on - and I still get very tired - but it is thanks to Mr Mistry that I am still living."

Mr Mistry, who has a shop in Harborough, said: "This story tells us why it is so important to come in for a routine operation.

The modest optician said: "We are all trained to the same extent - wherever you would go this would have been picked up."