Teacher diagnosed with brain tumor after she couldnt read any letters in eye test

A woman was diagnosed with a brain tumor after she couldn’t read a single letter during her eye test.Gemma Hillier, 45, lost her dad, Rod, 73, in July 2018 after he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma – an aggressive type of brain tumor – in February of that year.In September 2023, Gemma went to her local opticians for a standard eye test and struggled to read the letters in front of her. Her optician then referred her to an eye clinic after further testing and in November 2023 Gemma had an MRI scan.The results showed that she had a brain tumor and in February 2024, Gemma had surgery at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, to remove what they could.The surgery was a success after surgeons removed 90% of the tumor.Now, Gemma is monitored by regular scans to check for any growth.Gemma, a teacher, from Northampton, said: “Brain tumors have rocked my world in the last six years. “It is hard to believe that I am living with a brain tumor.They said that I could have been living with it for years.“I could have had it when my dad had his.“I am lucky in some aspects – I do have a brain tumor but I can live with it.“It is crazy knowing that I am walking around with a brain tumor.”Gemma didn’t experience any symptoms until she went in for a check-up at her local optician.She said: “When I sat in the chair, I couldn’t read any of the letters which I found strange as I thought I had good vision.“I then had further tests, including a visual field test which I failed.“My optician got her colleague to look at my eye, and they referred me to an eye clinic.”After being referred to the eye clinic, Gemma said she went “back and forth” with specialists so went privately to an ophthalmologist who referred her for an MRI scan.In November 2023, the MRI results showed that Gemma had a brain tumor and would need to be removed.She said: “No one seemed to be in a rush to fix me or find out what was wrong so eventually I went to a private ophthalmologist who a...