A MINEHEAD optician has been thanked by a patient after his quick thinking resulted in emergency surgery which saved her life.

Christine Herring, age 78, had been suffering headaches and vision loss in her left eye.

Her symptoms made her feel anxious, so she decided to book an eye test at the locally owned and run Specsavers branch.

When store director and optician Paul Bradford carried out the test, he noticed signs of a serious problem and immediately referred Christine to her GP, who arranged an emergency appointment in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.

An MRI scan confirmed she had an aneurysm which was pressing on her optic nerve and could have led to a serious neurovascular emergency, which can be fatal.

Christine was subsequently moved to Bristol’s Southmead Hospital, where doctors were able to shrink the aneurysm.

She has now returned to her home in Minehead and is resting after her ordeal.

Christine said: “Paul was so thorough when he was doing the tests and if it had not been for him, who knows what would have happened.

“I cannot thank him enough.

“The aneurysm was quite large so it may have been there for several months.

“They have now shrunk it and I have to take it easy for a bit now, but I have been so lucky.

“It all happened so quickly and that is down to Paul.

“He was very calm and sensitive and professional, and if he had not acted quickly in the way he did, I might not be here today.

“I am so thankful we have such a wonderful man in our community.

“I do not have the sight back in my left eye at the moment and they said at the hospital it might never come back.

“I will also be on medication for the rest of my life but it is all a small price to pay for having a life.

“My whole family cannot thank Paul enough.

“He was brilliant.

“I have never been very good at having regular eye tests, but after all that I have been through, I would certainly urge people to have them.

“They are so important.

“That one appointment could save your life.”

Christine now has an appointment to go for another MRI scan in Musgrove in six months’ time.

Mr Bradford said: “I am so pleased we were able to help Christine and get her the surgery she needed quickly.

“She is an amazing lady.

“It is situations such as Christine’s that show how important it is to be aware of your sight and how it changes.

“A bleed like hers is unusual and that is why regular eye tests are essential for early detection and prevention.

“It can be easy to ignore small signs and think they will go away, but for serious eye conditions the earlier the damage is treated, the greater the chances are of restoring good vision.

“Anybody with concerns about any unusual symptoms they are experiencing should visit their optician or a GP as soon as possible.”