PENSIONER Elizabeth Vidler says a routine eye test saved her sight.

The 65-year-old was diagnosed with a potentially sight-threatening detached retina by opticians at Crewe Specsavers during a routine test.

She made a spur-of-the-moment decision to flag what she thought was an occasional discomfort - a choice that saved her vision.

Now recovered four years later, Elizabeth, from Hough, is helping raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests in preventing people from needlessly losing their sight during National Eye Health Week.

Elizabeth is sharing her story in the week Specsavers unveiled its new fundraising partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People.

“I understand why people are squeamish about their eyes, so was I, but if I hadn’t picked up the courage to get a check I would have lost my sight,” said Elizabeth.

Elizabeth, who is retired, said although she was experiencing strange sensations in her right eye at night from time to time, she wrote off signs of any eye health issues as ‘getting older’.

Having known her father had been diagnosed with glaucoma, she assumed she was seeing signs of the same condition.

She said: “When I woke up in the night, I would occasionally notice there was a big circle on the bridge of my nose, like a golf ball.

“It disappeared in the day and I had no headaches or blurry vision in the day, so I didn’t take action immediately.

“I convinced myself I had glaucoma, so when I popped into Crewe Specsavers I was diagnosed and immediately referred to Leighton Hospital and, from there to a specialist in Liverpool.

“The ‘golf ball’ I thought I saw in my left eye was actually in my right and the sign that the retina had begun to detach.

“Three operations later, I’m now doing OK, but if the issue went undetected I would have lost my sight.’ This week the Specsavers Crewe store and team are decked out in the RNIB colours and providing collection tins as part of National Eye Health Week campaign to encourage awareness of the importance of regular eye tests.

Elizabeth added: “It’s important to have regular eye tests even if you don’t think you have any symptoms.

“Don’t wait until you can’t read or it becomes a problem. The risks are too big. I know people are squeamish about eyes but you can’t be. You only get one pair, after all.”