'I went for an eye test that ended up saving my life' says North Shields man after 10 day hospital stay
A routine eye test turned into a life-saving intervention for a North Shields man after an optician at Specsavers spotted signs of a serious condition.
Darren Keillor, who works in marketing for EE, visited Specsavers North Shields after noticing issues with the vision in his left eye. Expecting a new glasses prescription, he instead found himself on an urgent medical journey.
Optometrist Meg Robinson quickly identified something unusual during the examination and referred Darren directly to hospital. Specialists at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) confirmed he had a benign brain tumour.
Darren underwent surgery to remove the tumour and spent 10 days in hospital recovering. Now back home, the lifelong Newcastle United fan is continuing to make good progress with regular health checks at the RVI.
“It was a scary episode overall,” said Darren. “But the real positive was the quick response from Specsavers and the staff at the RVI. Meg’s fast thinking got me the help I needed—this could have become fatal.”
Mitch Robb, retail director at Specsavers North Shields, praised the actions of his colleague. “Darren’s case is rare, but our technology and the expertise of our team means we’re always prepared to detect potential life-threatening conditions,” he said. “Huge credit to Meg—her swift action made all the difference. We’re all so pleased to see Darren on the road to recovery.”
Specsavers North Shields continues to urge anyone experiencing changes in their vision to book an appointment as soon as possible, emphasising the vital role eye tests can play in identifying serious health issues.