WHEN Stephen Buckler visited his optician for what he thought was a routine eye test, he came out with more than just a new pair of glasses.

An examination revealed the 53- year-old warehouse worker had a brain tumour the size of an orange.

The tumour – which was attached to Stephen’s optic nerve – had gone undetected for years and if left to grow would almost certainly have killed him.

Stephen, who has worn glasses since childhood, went to his local Ringwood opticians for a regular check up with no idea that anything was out of the ordinary.

But after tests revealed a blurring to the vision in his right eye, his optician became concerned and referred Stephen to hospital for some exploratory scans.

“I got a call saying I had to go and see the neurosurgeon at Southampton General Hospital because they had found something behind my eye,” said Stephen.

It was here that doctors broke the terrifying news. He had a brain tumour.

“When they told me, I couldn’t take it in. My nephew was with me and we sat in the car afterwards in shock.”

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Although benign, the slow-growing tumour was gradually cutting off the blood supply to Stephen’s right eye and if left untreated could have proved fatal.

Incredibly he experienced no major symptoms.

“The doctors were amazed. It’s terrifying to think I had been walking around for years with this and I wasn’t getting any signs like headaches.

I would sometimes get a slight misty blur in my right eye but that’s it.”

Stephen, from Dorset, underwent a six-hour operation to remove most of the tumour and is now awaiting radiotherapy to destroy the rest.

“It was impossible to remove the entire tumour during my operation because of its close proximity to my eye,” he said.

“I don’t mind though, I feel so lucky to be given a second chance.”

Stephen has been left with occasional dizziness and lack of taste but is expected to make a full recovery.

“I shudder to think of the consequences if I hadn’t gone to my eye exam.

“I am truly grateful to my optician and hospital staff at Southampton and Bournemouth – without them I might not be here today.”

Bruce Fitzgerald, of Specsavers Opticians in Ringwood, said: “We’re glad to have been able to help Stephen and just hope this highlights the importance of regular eye examinations.”

Stephen said: “Something like this changes the way you look at life. You reassess what’s important.”