A Kidderminster optician has helped diagnose a stroke victim after she experienced partial blindness in her right eye. 

Specsavers optometrist, Akram Ali, referred Cynthia Kane straight to Worcestershire Royal Hospital after tests detected changes in the back of her eye. 

Ms Kane had booked an emergency appointment at the Kidderminster store after she noticed pain and poor vision in her right eye after showering on Boxing Day morning in 2022. 

Mr Ali ran a series of scans including using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine, which produces a structural scan of the eye to help find conditions up to four years earlier than traditional methods, and suspected Ms Kane had suffered a stroke. 

Specialists at Worcestershire Royal Hospital confirmed the diagnosis and informed Ms Kane that she would likely permanently lose the sight in her right eye. 

Ms Kane, aged 54, from Birmingham, said: "I am so grateful to Akram for his diligence and expertise in diagnosing the problem and sending me straight to the hospital. 

"I didn't get the sight in my right eye back, but I've been on medication since and I'm feeling much better now. I cannot sing Akram's praises enough. He was brilliant." 

Although Ms Kane only experienced symptoms in her right eye, Specsavers has issued an alert to residents to be aware of symptoms including numbness in the face, confusion or trouble speaking, vision problems, dizziness and severe headaches with no known cause. 

Akram Ali added: "I'm so pleased that Cynthia is recovering well. Her case is a prime example of why we encourage people to get any changes to their vision checked out. 

"Eye examinations are vital, not just in diagnosing vision-related issues, but also to pick up other potential health problems. 

"Make sure to tell your optometrist about any symptoms you've been experiencing so we can correctly assess or refer you if necessary."