Woman walked away with impaired vision after waiting four days for an eye exam

A woman who was left with reduced vision after delaying seeking medical help said she wished she had gone to an optometrist when she first experienced symptoms as it could have saved her vision.

Gail Cairns, from Belfast, began suffering from vision loss, headaches and eye pain in July 2025, but waited four days before having her eyes checked.

After being scanned by an optician as part of a free NHS program, she was immediately referred to hospital for treatment.

She had a serious eye disease that left permanent damage.

Ms Cairns was diagnosed Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) and pseudo-Foster-Kennedy syndrome.

Detailed scans by the optometrist showed damage to her optic nerve due to swelling in her brain.

She was treated in hospital with steroids to reduce the swelling but said: “Unfortunately the damage has been done.”

It “changed her life” and she can no longer drive.

“If I had known about this condition and how quickly things can change, I would have gone on Monday.

“There’s a good chance I’ll still be able to drive and do all the normal things I did,” she said.

The 60-year-old said everyday things like cooking, climbing stairs, reading to her grandchildren and putting on makeup are now difficult.

But she said that “the worst thing in the hospital was when my three-year-old granddaughter was sitting on the bed and I couldn’t see any of her facial features.”

“I just had a lump in my throat and it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.

“That was the first time I cried,” she said.

Ms Cairns has had annual eye tests due to a family history of glaucoma, but would encourage anyone with sudden eye changes to act quickly.

“Even the slightest change – don’t hesitate – have it examined by an optician immediately.”

She is grateful that she didn’t completely lose her sight.

Similar to a family doctor The optician is a family doctor who specializes in the detection and correction of diseases that affect vision and eye health.

An optometrist is trained to detect abnormalities in the eyes and many offer extended services, including same-day NIPEARS appointments for urgent eye problems, such as Ms Cairns’ exam.

It is a service for patients who have experienced a sudden eye problem in the last 14 days, such as:

• Pain and/or discomfort in the eyes or around the eyes

• Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Recent onset or sudden increase in flashing and/or floating in one or both eyes

• Something in your eye that you can’t remove yourself

The service has been running since 2018 and more than 90% of practices offer the service, including Sam Baird’s in Dundonald, where Ms Cairns went.

“Gail came in at 4pm on a Friday afternoon with very sore eyes and couldn’t see clearly.

“We were given drops to make her eyes more comfortable. We scanned her and found that she needed urgent treatment at the hospital,” he said.

He was able to provide her with the optic nerve scans “used to diagnose the condition, which meant that when she arrived at Ulster Hospital she was admitted straight away rather than having to wait for hours”.

This meant Ms Cairns could begin treatment straight away.

Mr Baird stressed the importance of having your eyes checked as soon as symptoms appear, as vision loss can occur very quickly.

While he said Ms Cairn’s case was rare, if she had come earlier in the week there may have been a different outcome.

“These are the small cases where it can make a very dramatic difference.”

“Optometrists have the specialized equipment to perform proper scans and examination of the eyes – something that emergency departments and primary care physicians do not have.”

Mr Baird said the NIPEARS system eased pressure on “two ends” of the health service.

“We are taking the burden off primary care physicians by taking care of minor eye diseases, and we are taking the burden off the eye clinics because they are not overwhelmed with unnecessary referrals,” he said.

According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)Every day in the UK, 250 people lose their sight, which equates to one person every six minutes.

The charity says there are more than two million people living with sight loss in the UK and half of them are blind, partially sighted and living with a long-term, irreversible eye condition.

According to the RNIB, the number of people with sight loss in the UK will double to over four million by 2050.

In September 2025, The Department of Health (DoH) highlighted the “vital role of community optometry”. in improving access to healthcare and shaping the future of eye care in Northern Ireland.”

Raymond Curran, head of ophthalmology at the DoH, encourages people to look after their eyes as “50% of all vision loss is preventable”.

He said that “family optometrists” should be the first port of call for ophthalmologists as family doctors are facing capacity issues.

Emergency room eye departments are struggling to keep up with increased demand.

The DoH said it is committed to making it easier for patients to access the care they need and that community optometry shows how community-based services can identify problems early, shorten waiting lists and ease pressure on hospitals.