Woman’s brain tumour diagnosed after swift action by Aldridge opticians
An Aldridge local has received life-saving surgery after an eye test detected signs of a serious underlying medical condition.
Barbara Onions, a 60-year-old service manager from Aldridge, had been experiencing blackouts and changes to her vision in her right eye since 2024, but put it down to just being tired. After seeing her doctor and being signed off work for stress and anxiety, Barbara’s symptoms still didn’t improve, leading her to book what turned out to be, a life-saving appointment with her local Specsavers.
Barbara was seen by Tajinder Showker, ophthalmic director at Specsavers Aldridge, who carried out an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan, which is additional to an eye test. An OCT scan uses light to take over 1,000 images of the back of the eye and beyond, creating a layered image that gives opticians a detailed view of the eye. The scan revealed a problem in Barbara’s right eye and prompted Tajinder to make an urgent referral to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where doctors discovered Barbara had a benign meningioma that was 7cm long.
"I really had put my vision changes down to tiredness, but when it didn’t get better being off work and my friends and family told me that my personality was starting to change and my mobility was affected, I decided to book an appointment at Specsavers," Barbara comments. "Tajinder explained everything he was seeing really clearly. When he told me he was making the hospital referral, he was so reassuring and remained calm and professional throughout. I’m really grateful that he acted so quickly - if he hadn’t, I might not be here today.
"At the hospital, I was overwhelmed when the doctors told me I had a tumour. It was such a relief when it was removed with no complications. I also had a shunt fitted as I had fluid on my brain which they explained was papilledema. Although the vision in my right eye has been affected, I’ve been back to Specsavers and they have sorted a new prescription for me which has definitely helped.
"I can’t thank Tajinder enough for his support during what’s been a scary time. It really is so important to get these things checked out and I’m grateful to finally get back to normal," Barbara adds.
Tajinder, who has been at the helm of the store on the High Street for two years, and has 15 years’ optical experience, comments: "When Barbara visited us in store, I could see swelling on her optic nerve and suspected papilledema - a condition where the optic disc, the part of the eye where the optic nerve enters, swells due to increased pressure.
"It’s so important to have your eyes checked regularly, we recommend booking an appointment every two years or more often if recommended by your optometrist. Even if you notice a small change, it’s very important to get it checked out and an OCT scan can help detect conditions that may need further treatment. I’m really pleased to hear that Barbara’s operation was successful and that we were able to help," Tajinder concludes.
