A DAD-of-three has revealed how a routine eye test helped potentially save his life after he was told he had signs of dangerously high blood pressure.

Zamil Munshi, 41, from Blackburn, went to his opticians for an eye examination, after experiencing blurry vision in his left eye.

He was stunned to be told by the optometrist who examined him, Nazmeen Ahmed, that he had the symptoms of grade four hypertensive retinopathy, which is a sign of dangerously high blood pressure.

Ms Ahmed, of AJ Spurrett Opticians in Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, made an urgent referral to the Royal Blackburn Hospital via the on-call ophthalmologist there.

She advised Mr Munshi to have his blood pressure checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

Checks confirmed that Mr Munshi’s blood pressure was dangerously high and he was admitted to hospital where he remained for 11 days while the pressure gradually returned to an acceptable level.

Mr Munshi, who works at a discount store in Blackburn, said: “I had noticed a significant change in the vision of my left eye, it had become considerably blurred.

“But overall, my day to day life continued as usual and these symptoms did not prevent me from continuing with any activities.”

“When my blood pressure was found to be extremely high I was admitted to hospital and during this time I also attended the eye clinic there. They informed me that the fluid and haemorrhaging in the eye was all caused by the high blood pressure.

Mr Munshi, who lives with wife Munira Munshi in Harrier Drive, and has three children, Naeema, 18, Hinaa, 15, and Kashmira, 12, said he is now taking medication to keep his blood pressure under control following his experience in January this year.

He said the cause of his high blood pressure, which can leads to conditions including strokes and heart attacks, is being investigated.

He added:“I now know how important it is to have regular sight tests.

“This was potentially lifesaving. “

Ms Ahmed said: “The importance of regular sight tests cannot be stressed enough. In Mr Munshi’s case, a healthy young man was going about his daily life totally oblivious of his possibly life-threatening hypertension which showed up through a routine eye scan and by the invaluable OCT scan available at our practice. I strongly recommend the 3D scan to all my patients.”

Mr Munshi has decided to speak out about his experience ahead of National Eye Health Week which takes place between September 24 and September 30.