Woman's life saved by wonky glasses

Oct 17 2008 By Adam Courtney

Maureen Routley with optician Mital Patel

A pair of wonky glasses indirectly saved a woman's sight – and perhaps her life - after her visit to a Walton optician revealed she had eye cancer.

Maureen Routley, of Old Charlton Road in Shepperton, went to Specsavers in High Street, Walton, to buy another pair of glasses and had a routine eye test while there.

It was a decision a year she will be eternally grateful for.

Mrs Routley, 66, said: "I thought I'd only be in there for five minutes. But after the optician examined me, he told me I needed to go to hospital immediately. It was there I was told I had eye cancer."

She was immediately referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital, where doctors stitched a radioactive plaque onto her eyeball and told her how fortunate she'd been the condition had been caught early.

Mrs Routley said: "If I hadn't had gone, I would have lost the sight in my eye and, of course, there's no way of knowing how far, and where, the cancer would have spread.

"When they told me, all sorts of things went through my head, like whether or not I'd be able to drive again or do the things I love doing. But the worry was a small price to pay for an early diagnosis and I will be forever grateful to the young man, Mital Patel, who picked it up.

"I was told only about 500 people per year are diagnosed with this disease, so for him to pick it up was fantastic."

The plaque has gradually started to shrink the tumour, a melanoma, and she fully expects to be given the all-clear soon. Her experience, however, has left her in no doubt regular eye tests should be normal for everyone.

Mrs Routley, whose husband Peter is chairman of Spelthorne Natural History Society, said: "People need to be aware eye tests can pick up so many illnesses, not just cancer. I know my cancer is very rare, but tests can pick up diabetes, heart problems, all sorts of things.

"People just go into Boots and buy glasses over the counter without having a test - but they shouldn't. It can save your life."