A PENSIONER'S eye was removed after her optician found a tumour during a life-saving routine check-up.

Glynis Wheatley, 66, from Harwich, went for a routine eye test in Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care, in Dovercourt, when her check-up revealed a suspected tumour behind her eye.

Thanks to the vigilance of optometrist Kal Dhesi she was referred to hospital and had her left eye removed to combat the cancer.

Retired support worker Glynis, said: "I don’t know whether I would be here now if I hadn’t had that check-up.

"It just shows how important regular eye tests are.

"I don’t think people realise it, there is not the same awareness.

"If it had not been diagnosed and Kal not acted so quickly, goodness knows what would have happened.

"I have always gone to the opticians regularly. I’ve been going to Scrivens for several years."

Glynis now has an artificial eye, which made her feel better after wearing an eye patch following her operation.

She saw the funny side when told she would still be able to drive as she couldn’t drive before losing her eye.

She lives with the risk that the cancer could spread and this has to be monitored with scans every six months.

She added: "I’m just thankful it happened to me and not my children or grandchildren and grateful for everyone who has supported me."

Mr Dhesi recalled how he was concerned when he detected a shadow at the back of her eye when Glynis attended for a routine appointment.

He referred her to Essex County Hospital where she was told it was a tumour and she went on to have her eye removed at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Mr Dhesi said: "Glynis had no obvious symptoms when she came in for her sight test.

"This is an example where a simple eye examination can save a life."

Optometrists recommend that most people have an eye test about every two years.

Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care is a family owned business which was established in 1938.

It has 181 stores in England and Wales, with over 1,100 employees. For more information, visit www.scrivens.com.