A FORMER pub landlord says his life has been saved by a trip to the optician.

Grandfather-of-11 Ray Clibbon, 61, from Blewbury, woke up six weeks ago with blurred vision.

When he turned up to Didcot’s Specsavers branch for a test, hi-tech retinal photographs found a small stroke had taken away almost half the sight in his right eye.

Optician Rukhsana Bi immediately contacted the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where Mr Clibbon has been receiving treatment to prevent another blood clot, which could cause a crippling stroke.

Mr Clibbon, a former landlord of the Crown, in Didcot, and steward of Banbury Labour Club, said: “I thought it was possible I was developing a cataract.

“When I came for the test, luckily this wonderful lady found it was a bit more serious than that.

“As they said in hospital, it was lucky the blood clot wasn’t in my brain or my heart, or I wouldn’t be stood here now. I would either be in a wheelchair or a hospital bed. I think Rukhsana has saved my life.”

Doctors believe a lump of cholesterol from scar tissue caused by heart surgery 10 years ago may have been floating in his blood, finally causing the clot in his eye.

Photos of his eye taken at Specsavers show a dark patch of destroyed retina, now unable to detect light coming into the eye. It has left his peripheral vision hazy.

But the clot could have formed in his brain, causing a serious stroke, or in his heart, causing a heart attack.

Doctors have now told Mr Clibbon to take nine tablets a day to help thin his blood – and he has spoken out to urge all pensioners to take advantage of free and potentially life-saving eye tests.

Miss Bi said: “For our ageing population, opticians aren’t just about glasses.

“If this scan hadn’t picked up Ray’s stroke, he might not be stood here with us today. If you’re not coming for your free over-60s check-up, you should be.”

She said people should have eye tests every two years, to help detect a wide range of conditions and health problems.

didcot@oxfordmail.co.uk

FAST REPSPONSE

FAST is a simple system to make a quick assessment of three specific symptoms of suspected strokes: Facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?

Arm weakness – can the person raise both arms?

Speech problems – can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?

Time to call 999.