A Teeside man is recounting a harrowing experience of how he was on the verge of losing his eyesight forever if not for the NHS and thanking them for their outstanding care.
On 25 September, Leslie Dean, 74, was watching his television when he suffered what he described as an ‘explosion’ happening inside his brain.
Leslie assumed it was a migraine but when sudden numbness started creeping in too, he alerted his wife, who rushed to his aid.
He said: “I started shouting for my wife, asking where she was and she replied saying that she was right in front of me. But I couldn’t see her and that’s when I realised – my vision was gone.”
“I couldn’t see any vehicles driving on the left of our car”
Leslie’s condition worsened with every passing minute and with growing concern for his health, Leslie’s wife urgently took him to the accident and emergency department at The James Cook University Hospital.
On the way, Leslie’s vision was slightly restored but he still couldn’t see any vehicles driving on the left side of his car.
When he arrived, he was assessed by the A&E team, who suspected a serious stroke, and he was quickly rushed in for treatment.
The stroke team arrived and informed Leslie that he had suffered hemianopia, which is the loss of part of the field of view on the same side in both eyes, and is normally a sign of stroke.
Dr Young from the stroke team explained the urgency of his situation and how his hemianopia was a result of a blood clot inside his brain.
At 1.25pm, Dr Young and his team promptly administered thrombolysis, a medical treatment using “clot-busting” drugs to dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow.
According to Dr Young, anyone suffering from a similar stroke who is not offered thrombolysis within the four-and-a-half-hour period could experience some life-changing consequences.
He said:
If we had not offered thrombolysis on time or if he had been a few minutes late to reach the hospital, Leslie would have suffered permanent eye loss.”
“Scariest moment of my life”
Following treatment, Leslie was admitted to the neurology and stroke unit in ward 34 at James Cook. Two hours later, Leslie’s vision started to return slowly and was restored later in the day.
Looking back on his life-changing incident, Leslie said: “The entire episode was scary, horrible and frightening.
“I felt like I was dying and although I did think this may be a stroke, I was not completely sure.”
Sadly, not everyone is fortunate to receive timely treatment like Leslie, as the majority of the public is unaware of its symptoms.
In a bid to raise awareness ahead of World Stroke Day on 29 October, Dr George Thomas, a consultant in stroke medicine and acute frailty, is urging everyone to make themselves aware of the uncommon symptoms experienced by Leslie.
He is advising anyone who suddenly experiences painless visual loss to check their vision by closing one eye at a time, then completing the following steps:
- Note if the painless visual loss is still on one side despite closing each eye at a time. This could be a stroke of the brain. Call 999 immediately
- Check if there is painless visual loss in only one eye after closing each eye at a time. This could be a stroke of the eye. Call 999 immediately or visit the nearest eye casualty.
- If visual symptoms have resolved within minutes, contact 111 or your nearest GP. This could be a transient ischemic attack, also known as a ‘mini stroke’
Leslie, who is recovering well at home, is urging the public to contact medical professionals if they suspect something unusual.
“I am so grateful to the stroke team, as I know they rushed to see me when I arrived at James Cook and made me understand how little time I had to save my eyesight,” added Leslie.