A dad-of-two from Bradford who suffered a detached retina is urging anyone who experiences changes to their vision to visit an optician immediately.

Gavin Brook could have been left permanently blind in his right eye if he had ignored his sight problems but it was spotted by an optician and he was referred to hospital where surgeons operated to reattach his retina, saving his sight.

The 47-year-old had developed severe ‘floaters’ – small spots in the field of vision – and experienced clouding over his right eye but put off having his eyesight checked.

However, about a month later, he paid a visit to Specsavers in Darley Street, Bradford, for his regular eye test and it was here that optician Martin Barrett recognised the condition was serious and urged him to seek medical attention.

He was seen by an eye specialist at Bradford Royal Infirmary that evening and was diagnosed with a detached retina. Fluid was leaking into his eye through two small tears causing his retina to de-attach from his eyeball.

An emergency appointment to see a surgeon was scheduled and Gavin underwent an operation to have his retina reattached to his eye within a week.

Gavin, 47, of Frizinghall, said: “I was so blasé; it was a Friday evening when I went to Specsavers for my eye test and I told Martin I’d see if I could get a hospital appointment over the weekend but he was insistent I needed to act immediately.

“I would have waited until my eyesight had worsened if I hadn’t visited the opticians that day. The fact I had the operation in a week shows just how serious it was.

“The operation left me swollen and with stitches. They injected my eye with a gas bubble and used a laser to help the healing process.

“I’d say the sight in my right eye is functioning at about 80 per cent. After what I have been through I would certainly advocate anyone who suspects they are experiencing any deficiency in their eyesight to get it checked over straight away.”

Pete Rooke, store director of Darley Street Specsavers, adds: “Cases like Gavin’s highlight how important it is people pay attention to changes in their eyesight.”