Patient thanks optician for potentially sight-saving care amid lockdown

Neil Collins contacted Pinder & Moore Opticians, on Market Street in Kingswinford, after he was suffering pain and experiencing floaters in the vision of his right eye.

Optometrist Amit Sharma saw him for an emergency appointment the same day.

Although Pinder & Moore Opticians is closed for routine appointments due to government restrictions, the independent opticians is still seeing patients who require essential and emergency consultations.

During the appointment, Amit was concerned that Neil had a retinal tear which can, if left untreated, lead to blindness.

He was referred to Birmingham Eye Hospital and within a day of contacting Pinder & Moore and his emergency appointment, Neil had laser surgery to repair the tear.

Although he is still waiting to hear whether further surgery is needed, Neil is extremely thankful for the care he received.

He said: “I am grateful to Pinder & Moore, Amit and the Birmingham Eye Hospital who were all very thorough and steered me in the right direction; I’ve dodged a bullet in many ways.

“Amit said he treated me as if I was a member of his own family - he wasn’t 100 per cent sure that it was a retinal tear but he was concerned enough to refer me and, thankfully, he was right on the money.

“They went out of their way to make sure I was safe; Amit was wearing PPE and he even provided me with a mask to wear at the hospital, so I can only be full of praise for what Pinder & Moore did.”

As well as emergency appointments, the team at Pinder & Moore Opticians are also providing deliveries of emergency glasses and contact lenses. The practice’s website has also been updated so that customers can purchase specs which are delivered to their door.