Getting an eye test is usually a fairly uneventful deal – but for one woman in the United Kingdom, it was lifechanging.
Getting an eye test turned out to be both the best and worst thing that ever happened to her.
At a glance:
- Jenni Hayes, a 30-year-old mother of two, discovered she had a brain tumor after a routine eye test revealed swelling behind her eyes.
- Hayes originally attributed her symptoms, including headaches and visual disturbances, to stress from her busy life as a working mother.
- Optometrist Iqra Chaudhary, who detected the abnormalities, emphasized the importance of regular eye tests for both vision and overall health.
Jenni Hayes, a 30-year-old midwife and mother of two from Macclesfield, received a life-changing diagnosis following what she thought would be a routine eye test. After experiencing headaches, visual disturbances, and numbness in her legs over the course of two years, Hayes assumed her symptoms were the result of stress due to the demands of her job and family life. It wasn’t until her mother suggested she get her eyes checked that the true cause of her symptoms was discovered.
https://x.com/BBCNews/status/1843222152423571831
During an eye exam at Specsavers, optometrist Iqra Chaudhary noticed a concerning swelling behind Hayes’ eyes and immediately referred her to a hospital. Further tests, including a CT scan and MRI, revealed that Hayes had a right frontal lobe glioma, a type of brain tumor. “You don’t ever expect that it’s going to be anything like that,” Hayes shared. “Your life changes in an instant.”
Reflecting on her experience, Hayes noted that she never expected an eye test to detect such a serious condition. She is now using her experience to raise awareness about the importance of regular eye exams, urging others to prioritize their eye health as they would other check-ups. “People don’t take eye tests as seriously as other health check-ups,” Hayes said, adding that early detection can be crucial.
Hayes is scheduled for brain surgery at Salford Royal Hospital, where doctors will attempt to remove up to 90% of the tumor. The remaining portion, located in a more dangerous area of her brain, will be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. “It’s going to be a rough year,” Hayes admitted, acknowledging the long road ahead.
As she prepares for her surgery, Hayes has taken steps to ensure her affairs are in order, writing a will and dealing with what she refers to as her “brain tumor admin.” She emphasized the importance of being prepared, especially as a mother. “You don’t want to leave a mess behind if things go south,” she said. “You want to leave everybody OK.”
Optometrist Iqra Chaudhary, who played a key role in the detection of Hayes’ tumor, stressed that regular eye tests are about more than just vision correction. “It’s not just about your vision, it’s also about healthcare and the eye health,” she said, highlighting the potential for eye exams to uncover serious health issues.
Hayes’ story serves as a reminder of the importance of eye health and regular check-ups, as early detection can make all the difference in treating serious conditions like brain tumors.
Don’t skip your next eye test, people…
