Eye test leads to life-saving brain tumour discovery for young mum

Whilst attending her routine eye test, Emily Rowe, a 32-year-old teacher in Felixstowe, received some news that would change her life.

Just weeks after returning to work from maternity leave, Emily was having an eye test when a brain tumour was detected. After repeatedly visiting GPs about her headaches, Emily was initially led to believe her symptoms were sinus related and therefore delayed seeking any further help.

Her symptoms date back to July 2024, when she began experiencing unusually severe headaches, often accompanied by dizziness. With the GPs initial prognosis Emily assumed her headaches were postnatal side effects as she was only 12 months since her had given birth to her first child.

By September, when her symptoms persisted and she began bumping into things, a doctor at Ipswich Hospital A&E suggested she arrange an eye test.

Emily booked an emergency appointment at Specsavers, where the optician carried out an advanced OCT scan. It revealed significant fluid at the back of her eye.

Her optician suspected papilloedema and referred her to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, which specialises in neuro-related conditions, the same day. Specialists there confirmed a malignant brain tumour and scheduled surgery, followed by radiotherapy.

Emily says: ‘It was literally my first day back at work when I noticed the problems. I just assumed it was teaching after being off for so long and being postnatal. I tried to power through.

‘It was such a shock to get the diagnosis. If it had been left, it could have led to hydrocephalus and permanent brain damage. It’s still upsetting to think about.

‘I’ve spoken to friends who don’t go to the opticians because they don’t wear glasses. But this showed me how vital it is. That appointment probably saved my life.

‘I really can’t thank Naeem and Specsavers Felixstowe enough. They saved my life.’

Emily is now on a treatment plan to support her recovery from surgery. She is also attending three-monthly scans to monitor her progress. These are scheduled for the next two years, and then they will be annually.

Naeem Kazi, director of Specsavers Sudbury and Felixstowe, says: ‘I am so glad Emily came in when she did and that we were able to get her referred to the hospital urgently to receive her life-saving treatment.

‘Positive outcomes such as Emily’s are the highlight of what we do here. It’s wonderful to know the impact our assessment had on her life.

‘I hope that stories like Emily’s can encourage others to keep up with their regular eye health checks as part of their sight test – because not everyone realises that the sight test is more than just whether you need glasses or not.’