The Coventry woman went for an eye test and was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm

A WOMAN from Coventry went for an eye test which led to a diagnosis of a brain aneurysm.

Karen Rodgers, a retail worker from Canley, took the test last year after seeing blurred vision in her left eye.

Harpreet Bhara, Ophthalmic Director at Specsavers Canley, who recently completed a specialist accreditation which allows her to refer clients more effectively, gave Karen the eye test.

Harpeet said: “From Karen’s initial eye exam, we could see that her left eye was healthy.

“During the test she couldn’t read the whole line of letters on the chart and we suspected the problem was neurological.”

Karen was referred to her GP and was later diagnosed at Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital with a benign brain tumour.

However, her symptoms worsened and after returning to Specsavers she was sent for an MRI which led to a diagnosis of a brain aneurysm.

She said: “I knew something was wrong when they did the scan twice.

“When the doctor initially thought it was a tumor and then I was told it was actually an aneurysm, I didn’t know whether to be relieved or worried.

“I hope that by sharing my story, it will encourage people to take their eye health seriously and raise more awareness of the health problems that can be diagnosed through eye tests.”

Harpreet added that her colleagues are also studying for accreditation that will enable them to detect, treat and manage minor and urgent eye conditions.