Oldham mum's eye test reveals brain blood clot

An Oldham mum's routine eye test turned into a life-saving diagnosis when persistent migraines were found to be caused by a brain blood clot. Amber Owens, 32, from Royton, had been suffering from severe headaches for months, visiting her doctor at least eight times without finding relief.

Different doctors suggested allergies and prescribed nasal spray and eye drops, but nothing worked. The pain behind her eyes and the feeling of being 'underwater' continued to worsen. Eventually, a doctor recommended she get an eye test, which proved to be the crucial step that saved her life.

At Specsavers in Royton, optometrist Tahira Rahman immediately noticed something was seriously wrong. 'I noticed her optic nerves looked very, very swollen-I'd never seen swelling like it in my career,' Tahira said. 'When you have very swollen nerves, it's a sign of something very serious going on in the brain.

Tahira described it as a 'textbook case' and arranged for Amber to be seen by an ophthalmologist within two days. A scan revealed a blood clot on her brain, leading to six weeks of treatment at Salford Royal Hospital. Amber underwent multiple surgeries and procedures, including having a permanent shunt fitted to drain fluid from her brain.

The ordeal left Amber without her senses of taste and smell, unable to walk, and requiring intensive care for a week and a half. Now recovering at home, the former child carer can no longer work due to her health problems. 'If I hadn't gone for the eye test I could have died,' Amber said, urging others to get checked if they experience unusual symptoms.