A 78-year-old Wigan man is urging others to act fast on sudden eyesight changes after a routine trip to his local optician uncovered a serious, life-threatening condition.

Edwin Causey, of Warrington Road, Wigan, woke on Saturday, June 27, to find he had completely lost the vision in his right eye. His daughter, unfamiliar with the area, contacted Specsavers Wigan to arrange a same-day Community Urgent Eyecare Service (CUES) appointment.

He was seen by optometrist Irem Ahmed, who quickly suspected something more serious than straightforward vision loss. Alongside the loss of sight, Mr Causey reported jaw pain when chewing and persistent headaches — symptoms that, combined with an abnormality she spotted on his optic nerve, pointed to a medical emergency.

Ms Ahmed arranged for him to be seen the same day at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, with senior optical assistant Angela Higson — who has 28 years' service with Specsavers — helping coordinate the fast-tracked referral.

Doctors diagnosed giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis), a condition causing inflammation of the arteries that can restrict blood flow to the eyes and brain, raising the risk of permanent vision loss and stroke if untreated.

While Mr Causey's sight in his right eye could not be restored, the swift referral allowed doctors to treat the condition before it became life-threatening. He is now recovering well on a course of steroids.

Ms Ahmed said: "Edwin's case is a reminder of just how much a routine eye test can reveal about a person's wider health. Sudden vision loss should never be ignored."