Norma from Stockport said it was a ‘miracle’ that her heart attack was caught during an eye test at her opticians
Norma, from Stockport, was told she was having a heart attack during a routine eye test at her opticians.(Image: NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care)
A woman was shocked to be told she was having a heart attack during a routine eye test.
Norma, from Stockport, is sharing her story as part of Know Your Numbers Week, which encourages regular blood pressure checks to detect any serious underlying health issues.
Luckily for Norma, blood pressure checks had recently been added to routine eye tests at some high street opticians in Greater Manchester as part of a new trial.
Feeling unwell and dizzy, she booked an eye test and was offered a blood pressure check, which revealed dangerously high readings.
Her optician immediately contacted her GP who arranged urgent transport to hospital, where a heart attack was later confirmed.
Norma said: “It’s a miracle. Absolutely a life-saver.
“If somebody says do you want your blood pressure tested, do it. It’s telling you what is wrong with your body.”
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Optician Gohar Majid, who conducted the test, said her eyes were fine, but they suggested to Norma they carry out the blood pressure test.
He said: “She dismissed it thinking it is always low, but it had been over a year since her last test, so while we had time, we did a blood pressure test and it was a lot higher than we expected.”
Norma is just one of many who have benefited from the NHS pilot, which is being rolled out in four areas across the country, including Greater Manchester.
During the first eight months of the initiative, it’s estimated that 44 lives were potentially saved in England, with 4,000 tests carried out.
The clinical lead for the pilot in Greater Manchester, Julia Maiden, from Wigan Local Optical Committee, said: “The data highlights the service’s effectiveness in identifying undiagnosed hypertension – an intervention that can significantly reduce long-term cardiovascular risk.”
The trial has been run in the city region by the Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Strategic Clinical Networks and Primary Eyecare Services, which is the largest not for profit lead provider in optometry, supporting the delivery of primary and community eye care services across the country.
Dharmesh Patel, chief executive of Primary Eyecare Services, said: “This pilot reflects the importance of optometry’s role in supporting the NHS’ 10-Year Plan of neighbourhood-led healthcare, offering convenient, accessible and effective care for more patients across England.”
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