Quick action by Dimitra Schonekas helped her avoid going blind in one eye. 88155 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By XAVIER SMERDON
A WYNDHAM Vale woman who almost lost the vision in one of her eyes has urged other residents to undergo regular eye checks with an optometrist.
Dimitra Schonekas thought that she simply had a sore eye, but little did she know that her condition was so serious that without immediate medical attention she could have gone blind.
“The pain I was experiencing was so severe that I felt nauseous. My eyes were very sore, watery, red and swollen,” Ms Schonekas said.
“I was shocked when the optometrist said without urgent attention, I could risk losing my sight.”
Specsavers Tarneit optometrist, Mr Chi Ong, who initially examined Ms Schonekas eye, said that it was lucky she decided to have her eye checked.
“Dimitra’s story is a good reminder to have your eyes checked at the first sign of any abnormality. Her quick action meant we were able to identify the problem in time, while it was still manageable and get her treatment underway.”
“It was clear that Dimitra was in a lot of pain and when I looked at the surface of her eye, I knew she had to get to an ophthalmologist right away for further inspection,” Mr Ong said.
The condition was diagnosed as a recurrent corneal erosion – a scratch on the eye’s tender cornea, which can cause significant pain and discomfort.
When Ms Schonekas first went to see her doctor she was prescribed with the wrong medication, which actually made the condition worse.
The Wyndham Vale woman said this was another reason for residents to see their optometrist as soon as possible.
