Routine eye test brings brain tumour shock for mother, 36

Sue Appleby-Turner, 36, from Scarborough, had been suffering from headaches and migraines for two years but a course of medication prescribed by her GP had failed to alleviate the pain.

Mrs Appleby-Turner, who has a young son called Zach, finally booked an appointment at a Specsavers store in the North Yorkshire resort in the hope she might establish the cause of the headaches.

As part of her check up, optician Nimmi Mistry conducted a field test to measure Mrs Appleby-Turner's central and peripheral vision.

When she failed the test, she was referred, via her doctor, to an eye specialist at Hull Royal Infirmary.

An MRI scan then revealed Mrs Appleby-Turner was suffering from a tumour the size of an orange – which was causing extreme swelling and a build-up of fluid on her brain.

She has since undergone two emergency surgeries, one to drain the fluid from her brain and a further eight-hour operation to remove the tumour.

"This has completely turned my world upside down – I never expected to be referred for an MRI scan following a trip to the optician," she said.

"To be told you have a brain tumour is the most frightening experience –all I could think about was my husband and little boy Zach and the fact that I might not be going home again. I wouldn't wish that on any family.

"I knew there was something wrong. I'd been suffering from migraines and headaches for nearly two years and no amount of medication could numb the pain. When I had a bad migraine I would literally be in bed for a fortnight.

"At the end of last year they really began to intensify and I was suffering from flashing lights, an aura and a burning sensation in my eyes which felt like they were about to explode.

"I'd never suffered from loss of vision or poor eye sight but research on the internet suggested you should have an eye test every two years. I hadn't had one for nearly 10 years, so I thought it was worth a visit.

"When a second optician was brought into the room I anticipated the worst, but they were very calm and reassured me every step of the way."

The tumour was successfully removed following the operation in January, but Mrs Appleby-Turner is still recovering from the effects of her ordeal.

Since leaving hospital, she has experienced seizures and is on daily medication to try and control them.

Her vision has also been badly affected and it is not yet known whether her full sight will be restored and if she will legally be able to drive again.

She said: "I'm so grateful to be alive - I literally owe my life to the Specsavers team and I will forever be indebted to them. It really doesn't bare thinking about what would have happened if I hadn't made that trip to the opticians."

Specsavers store director Alasdair Corbett urged the public to have regular eye checks to help identify any major health problems as early as possible.

He added: 'It's fortunate that Mrs Appleby-Turner came in for an eye test when she did, as her condition had reached the stage where it had become life-threatening."