THE importance of eye tests has been highlighted after a 53-year-old man’s visit to his local opticians helped to save his vision.
Naim Gashi from Dagenham began noticing shadows in his vision at the bottom and side of his right eye, which he initially dismissed as dust. After several attempts to clean it out, there was no improvement, so he decided to call Specsavers Dagenham Heathway.
They advised him to come in for a same-day appointment and when in-store, Naim had a thorough eye test which included an advanced OCT scan. The technology allows opticians to see deep into the eye and help detect potential conditions years in advance.
Specsavers optometrist Thuvaaraga Velmurugan saw Naim had a detached retina in his right eye and urgently referred him to Moorfields Eye Hospital for surgery.
Naim says: ‘I’d just returned from Kosovo, so I initially put the irritation down to dust which’d made its way into my eye from travelling. Although it felt weird, I had no pain, so didn’t think it would be anything too serious.
‘I decided to call Specsavers Dagenham Heathway, who I’ve trusted with my eyecare for the past nine years, and after a comprehensive examination including an OCT scan, it was confirmed that I had a detached retina in my right eye – what I now know to be a serious medical emergency.
‘I was urgently referred to Moorfields, where further tests were carried out the same day, and surgery was scheduled for the following day. Thankfully, the operation was successful. It’s scary to think that if I had waited much longer, I would’ve gone completely blind in my right eye.’
The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye; if this detaches, it becomes separated from its blood supply that provides it with essential nutrients and oxygen.
Naim adds: ‘Honestly, the Specsavers Dagenham Heathway team were – and still are – amazing. The supervisor, Sandeep, is so friendly and kind, and their resident optometrist Thuvaaraga has been incredible. She’s one in a million: friendly, helpful, calm, and always takes the time to explain everything clearly. She actually also spotted a cataract in my right eye around two years ago, as well as a cataract in my left eye when I returned for an eye test more recently.’
Gurjit Singh Sehmi, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Dagenham Heathway, says that Naim’s case highlights the critical importance of regular eye examinations, not just when symptoms arise but as part of routine health care.
He adds: ‘Advanced eye scan technology like OCT, which was once only available in hospitals, now allows us as opticians to detect and monitor eye conditions with exceptional accuracy. These non-invasive scans are quick and painless, helping us identify and track serious eye diseases more efficiently than ever before.
‘By catching potential issues early – even in customers with no symptoms – we can make more precise and timely referrals, which can be sight-saving. For example, a detached retina is a medical emergency that can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness if left untreated, so early detection is critical.
‘I strongly recommend having a routine eye test at least every two years – or more frequently if advised by your optometrist. Thanks to constant innovation in optical technology, we’re now able to offer patients an unprecedented level of care.’
