Carnforth man thanks quick-thinking opticians for saving his sight

A man from Carnforth who experienced retinal detachments in both of his eyes has paid tribute to the quick-thinking of the optometrist who potentially saved his sight.
Optometrist Shela Patel from Butterfield Opticians.Optometrist Shela Patel from Butterfield Opticians.
Optometrist Shela Patel from Butterfield Opticians.

John Kitching, a 60-year-old graphic designer, admits he could have gone blind if he had not contacted Butterfield Opticians on Market Street in Carnforth.

At the time, the practice was only able to provide emergency and essential care due to coronavirus restrictions, which halted routine appointments until June.

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Butterfield’s optometrist Shela Patel answered John’s call and, after he described his symptoms of a shadowy spot and floaters in the vision of his left eye, Shela immediately arranged a referral to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary for urgent care.

Butterfield opticians.Butterfield opticians.
Butterfield opticians.

It was thanks to Shela’s quick-thinking that specialists at the eye clinic were able to diagnose a detached retina in his left eye which, if left untreated, can cause blindness in the affected eye.

Upon returning to hospital for a check-up after surgery, John was told that he also had a substantial torn retina in the other eye. This required the same operation as he had on his left eye in the space of a few weeks, meaning John had five weeks of recovery time off work in total.

But now able to return to working from home following his treatment, John is well aware the situation could have been much worse.

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He said: “By the time I was seen for the operation on my left eye I was down to about 10% of vision, so if I hadn’t got it sorted when I did I would have gone blind.

“It was invaluable to have Shela there at the practice as she was able to refer me straight to the eye clinic, instead of me having to go through A&E and all the issues that presented at the time.

“We only recently became patients at Butterfield as we used to go to a national chain, but we didn’t feel we were getting the same personalised service that we do with an independent; the staff at Butterfield are unbelievably thorough.

“You can’t risk your eyesight, so if anyone is in my situation with floaters and dark spots in your vision, get it sorted straight away because it’s so important that you are seen in time.”

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Shela said: “John did exactly the right thing in seeking help as soon as he noticed a change in his vision.

“Floaters and black spots are a common emergency problem that we often see in practice. Fortunately, most cases are not of any further concern, however, a small percentage can be due to a retinal tear, which can have serious effects if not treated promptly.

“It is therefore very important you contact your optician if you notice any vision changes to get further advice. In the Lancaster area we are lucky to have a Community Eyecare Service where accredited practitioners, as we are, can triage any eye related symptoms.

“It was so vital that we stayed open for emergency appointments during lockdown to help people like John who were in urgent need of care, which also helped to ease the pressure on the NHS.

“We’re now really pleased to be reopening routine appointments to our patients. with additional hygiene measures in place to guarantee a safe environment for everyone in practice.”

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