FOR Farnham woman Joanne Trafford a routine eye test at a town centre opticians was a lifesaving experience.
When Joanne made an appointment at Specsavers Opticians, West Street, she expected that she may simply need a prescription for glasses.
But after the observant optometrist, Mojgan (Mo) Mola-Mohieddin, identified a problem, Joanne was advised to seek urgent medical attention.
It was revealed that she had a brain tumour, which could have caused a loss of eyesight and claimed her life.
Joanne was immediately admitted to the Atkinson Morley Hospital in London where the tumour was removed during a dangerous operation.
She said: "I was told that if Mo hadn't detected this condition I would have lost my sight completely within six months and would have been dead within a year. I can't thank her enough."
Although Joanne recovered from the first operation, in 2002, a further tumour was removed in November of last year at the Atkinson Morley wing in its new home at St George's Hospital, London.
This week Joanne met Mo for the first time since her initial eye test. It proved to be an emotional meeting for the two women.
Mo said: "I am just pleased that I was able to help. It is good to know that we were able to spot the problem in advance. When Joanne came in, she was a young mum with a baby. It doesn't bear thinking about what could have happened if the problem hadn't been picked up in time."
Joanne, whose son Kian is now two years old, has rebuilt her life and is feeling in good health.
"When something like this happens it makes you treasure every moment," she said.
Mo explained that she had been able to identify the problem because she had spotted that Joanne's optic nerve was an unusual shape and colour.
The opthalmic director at Specsavers, Lateef Iqbal, praised Mo for her quick thinking. "You can tell a lot about a person's health by looking at their eyes. Eye tests are about more than just finding out if a person needs glasses. Mo did a brilliant job."