Rowena Ibbotson has been put forward for the Yorkshire Evening Post Best of Health Awards by grateful patient Debra Bennett.

Rowena, who works at Pollards Optical Dental Clinic in Wakefield, has been nominated as Optician of the Year – which is sponsored by Sovereign Health Care.

Ms Bennett, who has multiple sclerosis, had suffered with problems with her left eye for years. After a talk from the clinic at a support group meeting, Ms Bennett went for an eye test.

“Rowena identified I had a dark mass in my eye and required further investigation,” she said.

“I was referred immediately to my GP and then to the hospital. After further ultrasound scans it was identified that I had a choroidal melanoma, a primary malignant tumour, the worst kind.”

She said that she chose to have radiotherapy and a year on, the tumour is shrinking.

Ms Bennett added: “I believe Rowena literally saved my life.

“Rowena had only just started at Pollards and it was the first case she had come across.

“She keeps in touch to see how I am doing and I go for regular check-ups now. The main thing I realised is that you don’t have to have a problem with your vision to go to an opticians, there are other ailments they can identify and in my case a very big problem that could have been fatal if not found in time.”

Rowena, who has worked at Pollards Optical since February 2011, said she suspected a tumour immediately but had never seen one like that before.

“I knew it was something very strange and concerning,” she said.

The optometrist said eye tests were crucial to pick up on potential healthproblems and added it was very rewarding to be able to spot issues like this.

She said she was delighted: “Obviously I’m very flattered that she should think of me. It’s nice to be recognised.”

VOTE FOR ROWENA HERE: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news