Routine eye test saves Alfreton woman’s sight and leads to MS diagnosis

Post on 5th May 2026

A routine eye test proved to be a life-changing moment for Alfreton resident Hannah Mockler.

The 33-year-old keen crocheter and gamer was used to wearing prescription glasses for reading only, but a sudden change in her vision prompted Hannah to seek an eye test at her local Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care.

In the lead-up to Christmas, whilst working at a local supermarket, she noticed she could not read the barcodes in the bottom right periphery of her eyes. She initially put this down to the artificial lighting, but over the next two days things quickly deteriorated and Hannah was finding it difficult to identify faces.

Hannah managed to get an eye test within a couple of days and described her symptoms to the Scrivens optometrist, Sameer Mistry. Despite her eye test coming back as normal based on her current prescription, further periphery tests sparked concerns from the team.

Without hesitation, they sent her straight to A&E armed with the results of the eye test. Hannah was so pleased they did. She ended up spending nine days in hospital undergoing different tests that soon revealed she had Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Hannah explained: “I was, and still am, in shock. I never expected a simple eye test would lead to an MS diagnosis. Thankfully, my eyesight is now back to normal following intense steroid treatment, but I am undergoing further tests before starting my medication.

“Looking back, I have had MS symptoms for many years, with tingling and numbness in my fingers and hands. I’ve also had bladder issues, never wanting to be too far from a toilet. I had been going to my GP describing these symptoms, but at no point was MS discussed as a possibility.

“I would urge anyone to have regular eye tests as they can reveal so much about your general health; without an eye test, I could have been left with permanent damage to my vision. The team at Scrivens were amazing – so thorough and caring. I can’t thank them enough.”

The quick action by the Scrivens team proved crucial in getting Hannah the treatment she needed to preserve her vision and begin managing her condition.

Optometrist, Sameer Mistry, said: “When Hannah described her symptoms, particularly the sudden loss of peripheral vision and difficulty recognising faces, I knew we needed to investigate further immediately. Whilst her standard eye test appeared normal, the peripheral field tests raised red flags that couldn’t be ignored.

“This case demonstrates why we never take any visual changes lightly – eye examinations can reveal so much more than just whether you need glasses. I’m delighted that our thorough approach helped Hannah get the urgent care she needed, and I’d encourage anyone experiencing sudden changes in their vision to book an appointment straight away rather than waiting.”

Hannah and her long-term partner Ben are now coming to terms with her diagnosis and looking ahead with cautious optimism. She said: “It has been a huge shock for both of us and a lot to process. I am sure we will come out stronger, but I’m not going to lie and say it’s been a bed of roses. At least we both now know my earlier symptoms were not psychological, as had been hinted and I am optimistic about us continuing to live our lives to the max.”

Hannah’s case highlights the importance of eye tests in detecting serious conditions. In the UK, there are over 150,000 people with MS and nearly 7,100 people are newly diagnosed each year[1].

Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care is a family run business that was established over 85 years ago in 1938. It has 166 high street stores in towns and cities across England and Wales, with 1,000 employees. For more information, visit www.scrivens.com.

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[1] https://www.mssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/our-evidence/ms-in-the-uk#:~:text=We%20estimate%20there%20are%20over,COVID%2D19%20vaccines%20and%20MS