A LUCKY TEENAGER would have gone blind if it wasn’t for a quick thinking local optician.

Craig Carmichael was confused after waking up with poor vision out his right eye.

The 15-year-old and his mother Kerry were left horrified at the diagnosis they got after popping into Firstsight Optician to find out what was wrong.

Quick thinking Annette Halnan instantly recognised the red flag signs of a brain tumour.

She insisted that Craig be taken to hospital right away and 20 minutes later he was at Ayr Hospital.

An initial MRI scan led to a suspicion of fluid in the brain and he was transferred to Crosshouse Hospital.

There Craig underwent three more MRI scans, a lumber puncture and blood tests.

He was kept in Crosshouse for a week and during that time the tests revealed he was indeed suffering from papilloedema.

The optic nerve in his right eye was swollen and it contained too much fluid.

Doctors feared he would completely lose sight in the eye and put the teen on a course of tablets which he still takes to this day.

Now, after treatment lasting just over a year, his sight is back to normal.

And although he is still suffering from headaches, his mother is convinced that without Annette’s intervention he would now be blind in one eye.

Kerry said: “I can’t thank her enough for what she did. Craig would have lost his sight if Annette hadn’t reacted as quickly as she did.

“Any delay in getting him treated could have been catastrophic.”

Annette Halnan added: “I am delighted that Craig is doing so well with his sight back to normal and the double vision gone.

“Kerry made the right decision in getting Craig seen quickly.”

Papilledema or papilloedema is optic disc swelling that is caused by increased intracranial pressure due to any cause.