This week, 23rd to 29th September, marks National Eye Health Week, promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all.
It’s a poignant reminder for brain tumour patient Clare Smerdon. Clare, from Paignton, Devon, was a new mum to Teddy, now three, when she received her devastating diagnosis, after weeks of suffering from visual disturbances and debilitating headaches.
Regular, routine eye tests can sometimes detect eye problems that indicate the presence of a brain tumour. Blurred or double vision, loss of peripheral vision, or seeing flashing lights or colour can all be warning signs – although they are also more commonly symptomatic of other illnesses and diseases.
Teddy was just 13 months old when Clare started experiencing flashing lights. She said: “A rainbow of colours shifted from my left to right eye, coming and going. At the same time, I experienced excruciating headaches.”
Clare booked in for an eye test at Specsavers in The Willows in Torquay, where tests revealed a defect in peripheral vision in Clare’s right eye, and she was sent home with a letter for her GP to investigate further.
Eventually, Clare was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM), after scans revealed a 6.4cm mass on her brain. Treatment included a six-hour surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and has left Clare with life-changing effects, including compromised vision. Her most recent scan detected growth, but she has been told that it is not enough to qualify her for further surgery, and she remains on a ‘watch and wait’ treatment plan.
Now, Clare is urging people to pay attention to their eye health. She said: “Losing part of my sight was one of the hardest parts for me. It’s taken my independence away. I can’t drive, I can’t work, and I have to rely on others a lot.
“Your vision is priceless, so if you feel something isn’t quite right, get an eye test. Chances are it’s nothing serious. But if it is, it could end up saving your life.”
Shortly after her treatment last year, Clare took part in our Walk of Hope in Torpoint, and she will be stepping out again this weekend, at this year’s event, to raise awareness and money for Brain Tumour Research. She said: “In years to come, when a cure is found, I will know I’ve done my bit."
To donate to us via Clare's fundraising page, please click here.
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