Practice proves the value of an eye examination

Specsavers optometrist Bruce Fitzgerald has been hailed as a lifesaver after he discovered that one of his patients had a large brain tumour attached to the optic nerve at his store in Ringwood, Hampshire last year.

Spectacle wearer Stephen Buckler, 53, visited the store for his bi-annual check-up and was not suffering from headaches, double vision or any other symptoms. However, Fitzgerald noticed that his vision was slightly blurred in the right eye and further tests revealed a severe right visual field defect. As a result, he immediately referred him to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital Eye Unit where he underwent further tests.