A HIGH WYCOMBE woman who suffered from painful headaches has thanked opticians for spotting a rare, life-threatening condition.

Katy Harris, a 25-year-old luxury spa designer who lives with her partner in Hazlemere, contacted Specsavers in White Hart Street after suffering from painful headaches, dizziness and tinnitus.

After suffering from regular headaches and despite numerous visits to her GP, Katy put her symptoms down to simply needing a new pair of prescription glasses, so she booked in for a routine eye test and a contact lens trial.

Bucks Free Press: High Wycombe optometrist Trisha Patel and Katy Harris

Trisha Patel, an optometrist at Specsavers in High Wycombe, carried out a thorough eye test and immediately spotted abnormalities.

After further tests, including an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scan to produce a 3D scan of the back of Katy’s eyes, Trisha was able to easily identify swelling at the back of both eyes - commonly associated with a severe condition - and so referred her to the emergency eyecare department at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Before Katy had finished her contact lens trial, she received a call from the hospital to arrange an urgent appointment for the following day.

When Katy attended her appointment with her Mum, Penny, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, she underwent further tests.

Katy was subsequently seen by a neuro-ophthalmologist, who confirmed she had developed idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a rare, chronic condition caused by a build-up of pressure around the brain.

Katy said: "I’ve suffered from headaches since I was in my early teens but they’d become quite severe. As a student I really struggled with headaches and generally felt unwell, with painkillers having little effect.

"To find out the cause of my headaches was something that could have taken my sight or even my life was really scary.

"But I count myself lucky, as the quick action of my optician and the medical team at Stoke Mandeville Hospital meant I was able to get it treated before things got too serious.

"I can’t thank Trisha at Specsavers enough.

"I visited Specsavers High Wycombe for a routine test and just thought I’d be given a new prescription for glasses and would be trying out contact lenses for the first time. I certainly didn’t expect a trip to hospital. With such busy lives, it’s so easy to forget about looking after yourself.

"It’s so important to know that opticians are not just there to check your eyesight but can help uncover serious health problems too. 

"My advice would be to never ignore symptoms. If something doesn't feel right, just get it checked out."

Optometrist Trisha Patel adds: ‘Katy’s story highlights the importance of getting your eyes tested regularly – at least every two years – as we can help identify wider health problems and refer you for further medical treatment if necessary.

"Katy popped in to see us after her procedure and confirmed that her headaches had reduced, which was a huge relief.  We’re delighted to hear that she is now well on the road to recovery.

"If anyone has any concerns about their eye health, or notices a change in their vision, they should seek the advice of an optician as soon as they can."