Keith from Rojales booked a routine eye test at Specsavers Ópticas in Guardamar and optician Lisa James noticed an anomaly on the retinal photograph that was taken in advance of the examination. Concerned about what this could be, she checked with specialist equipment in the test room and could see what she suspected was a large choroidal melanoma.
Knowing the urgency of getting this checked by a specialist, Lisa explained the issue to the patient and wrote a referral letter to the Doctor with an urgent request to refer to an eye specialist. The specialist diagnosed a melanoma and began immediate cancer treatment to the eye, saving Keith’s sight and protecting him against serious health complications.
“Eye cancer is thankfully rare, with only around 250 cases of melanoma reported in adults every year in Spain,” Lisa explains. “It can affect the eyeball, the conjunctiva or the eyelid and although it’s not clear why it occurs, risk factors include having lighter eye colour and pale skin, unusual moles, using sunbeds and overexposure to sunlight.
Unfortunately, it can be serious, as it does not always cause obvious symptoms before it is very far advanced, which makes treatment more difficult. I am grateful Keith responded to his eye test reminder, as otherwise the outcome could have been very different.”
Keith adds, “It’s frightening to think that I nearly missed my two yearly eye check-up – what a mistake that would have been! At Specsavers Ópticas in Guardamar, they identified an abnormal shadow behind my right eye during the examination.
The director Lisa James referred me to Torrevieja hospital where a melanoma tumour was detected and I received radiotherapy at Barcelona eye hospital just in time. Missing that eye health check could have cost me my sight and caused subsequent serious illness. Please don’t miss your check up!”
An eye test is an important health check
A surprising amount can be revealed from an eye test, from the early stages of conditions which can permanently damage the vision such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, to spotting warning signs of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, risk of a stroke and symptoms associated with brain tumours.
To be in with the best chance of spotting the signs of health conditions you need to have a thorough eye test which includes a range of tests and the latest technology. A great tool for health checks is Digital Retinal Photography which uses a camera to take a picture of the back of the eye – the only part of the human body where the microcirculation of blood can be observed directly.
This technology helps to identify changes that might be associated with certain eye conditions and health complaints, and the ability to save images creates a lasting record for ongoing monitoring. If necessary, the optician can refer patients directly for further medical examination to their hospital or general practitioner.
Specsavers Ópticas offers comprehensive eye tests using the latest technology and all stores have a Digital Retinal camera. The Guardamar store is located on Avda. País Valenciano 43-Bajo, there are also stores in Torrevieja, La Zenia, Benidorm, Javea and Calpe on the Costa Blanca. Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store or search for eye health information.
