'My eyesight might been saved if I'd gone to the optician sooner'

"Gail Cairns, from Belfast, started experiencing sight loss, headaches, and eye pain in July 2025, but waited four days before getting her eyes checked. After being scanned at an opticians through a free NHS scheme she was immediately referred to hospital for treatment. She had a serious eye condition that had left permanent damage. Getty Images Mrs Cairns was diagnosed with Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NA-AION) and Pseudo Foster-Kennedy syndrome."

"She was treated in hospital with steroids to reduce the swelling, but said "unfortunately the damage was done". It has been "life changing" and she can no longer drive. "If I had known about this condition and how quickly things can change, I would have gone on the Monday. "The likelihood is that I would still be able to drive, and do all the normal things that I was doing," she said."

"But she said the "hardest part was in the hospital whenever my three-year-old granddaughter was sitting on the bed, and I couldn't make out any of her features". "I just took a lump in my throat, and it was like somebody punched me in the stomach. "That was the first time I teared up over it," she said. Mrs Cairns had annual eye tests because of a family history of glaucoma but wants to encourage anyone with sudden changes in their eyes to act quickly."

Gail Cairns of Belfast experienced sudden sight loss, headaches and eye pain in July 2025 and waited four days before seeking an eye examination. An optician scanned her through a free NHS scheme and immediately referred her to hospital. Detailed scans revealed optic nerve damage caused by brain swelling, and she was diagnosed with Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Pseudo Foster-Kennedy syndrome. Hospital treatment with steroids reduced swelling but could not reverse the permanent damage. The vision loss prevented her from driving and made daily tasks and recognising her granddaughter difficult. She urges immediate optician assessment for any sudden eye changes.

Read at www.bbc.com