Man 'hours away from losing his vision' urges people to check eyes for symptom

Man 'hours away from losing his vision' urges people to check eyes for symptom People are urged to 'get checked immediately' after man says he was only a few hours away from losing his vision after noticing change A man who was 'hours away from losing his vision' is urging people not to ignore tiny specks or threads drifting across their field of vision, as they may be a warning sign of a serious condition. Eye floaters are something most people will have experienced, especially when glancing at a bright sky or a white wall. But while they are often harmless and easy to dismiss, they can occasionally signal a need for urgent attention. Formally known as muscae volitantes, Latin for 'flying flies', floaters are caused by changes deep inside the eye. The vitreous - the gel-like substance that fills the eyeball - is crystal clear at birth and fully attached to the retina. But as people get older, it gradually liquefies and begins to sag, forming clumps and strands that cast faint shadows on the retina, which are the floaters people see. Age is the most common trigger, while short-sightedness can speed up the process. Previous eye surgery, such as cataract removal, can also play a role, as can inflammation within the eye and, in rare cases, bleeding into the vitreous due to conditions such as diabetes. For most people, floaters are a nuisance rather than a danger. But there are circumstances where they warrant urgent attention. A sudden flood of new floaters, flashing lights in peripheral vision or the sense of a grey curtain creeping across your field of view are all red flags. These symptoms can point to a retinal tear or detachment, which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent sight loss. It is a warning that Mr Amir Hamid, a cataract and refractive surgeon who has performed more than 10,000 operations, knows first-hand. The Chief Medical Officer of eye hospital group Optegra found himself on the other side of the operating table after developing the very condition he has spent his career treating. Mr Hamid underwent an emergency procedure for a detached retina after noticing a blind spot in his right eye, a symptom he recognised immediately. "I was exercising when I noticed a black patch in my field of vision," he said. "Because I was a very high myope, very short-sighted, I knew immediately, being an eye doctor myself, that this was the sign of a retinal detachment. "Fortunately for me, I've got a very good contacts list, so I phoned Mr Wong at OCL Vision, who I know is an excellent surgeon, and I got to see him straight away the same day. I'm a surgeon - I fix things. So my first thought was I need to find someone to fix this for me and who is the best guy to do it? My sight is really important to me. It's my livelihood, it's how I support my family." Mr Chien Wong, Director and Partner at OCL Vision, who carried out the surgery, said Mr Hamid had come within hours of losing his sight. "When another surgeon chooses me it means a lot," he said. "It's humbling and a privilege. Sight is such an important part of life but especially in a job like ours where people are putting their trust in you to carry out delicate and complex operations." The experience has also changed how Mr Hamid connects with his own patients. He explained: "It adds a level of insight and empathy. Patients find it reassuring that you can share a period in your life where you were vulnerable, just as they are. It has enriched me as a doctor." He is now urging anyone who notices sudden changes to their vision not to wait. "Any situation where you have a rapid onset of visual impairment, you need to be seen immediately," he said. "Please don't be hesitant to seek that help straight away."