Dad Alyn was worried about the cost of glasses but finally making an appointment to see the optician saved his life

Wales Online

28-04-2025

Dad Alyn was worried about the cost of glasses but finally making an appointment to see the optician saved his life
Alyn's wife Sioned persuaded him to go after he had been complaining about having sore eyes for three months
Alyn, with his wife Sioned who persuaded him to get an appointment with the opticians after complaining about eye problems
(Image: BBC )
Dad-of-two Alyn kept putting off an optician appointment because he was worried about the cost of getting new glasses. In the end it was the 41-year-old wife Sioned who persuaded him to make the visit - and that appointment helped save his life.
His emotional story was told in the latest episode of BBC show Saving Lives in Cardiff, which tells the true stories of staff and patients at the University Hospital of Wales in the Welsh capital. They tracked Alyn's progress from arriving in hospital to the surgery that helped save his life, and his vision.
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The documentary series followed the Cardiff dad after came to hospital alongside Sioned, and their son Ellis, after he was diagnosed with a tumour growing inside his brain and into his left eye socket, very close to the optic nerve, which is responsible for vision.
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The family explained that the diagnosis had come after Sioned had persuaded Alyn to go for an opticians' appointment after he started complaining about eye problems three months before.
"I just kept mentioning my eyes are tired, probably from using the computer so much," he explained. "I said, Oh my left eye keeps sort of failing to adjust to the light'."
Dr Amr Mohamed was responsible for Alyn's surgery to remove the brain tumour
(Image: BBC )
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Sioned added: "I just thought he was being overdramatic, to be honest. Just go for the appointment at the opticians."
Although Alyn explained he had been "putting it off" going for an appointment as he did not want to spend money on a new pair of glasses, he eventually did, and was later diagnosed with a "significant" tumour growing behind his left eye.
"I'm under no illusion how big this is," Alyn said. "This is huge. Probably said, biggest moment in my life so far, really."
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Neurosurgeon Amr Mohamed was responsible for Alyn's operation and rescheduled his list so that Alyn could get his operation as soon as possible.
Sioned reflected: "It's quite daunting isn't it?"
Alyn added: "It's the fear. Yeah, it's the fear of not knowing the after. I'm glad I've found it because Sioned made me go to the opticians."
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She added: "I wasn't really expecting this kind of outcome. I literally thought they'd give him a new pair of glasses and that would be it. It was just lucky that we did go."
As Amr Mohamed explained, it would be a "big surgery" for Alyn. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter .
As the neurosurgeon would be working in limited space, the optic nerve was at risk by the operation, meaning blindness could be a risk. Alyn revealed that this was his "biggest fear".
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"I'll do my best for you to keep your vision, absolutely," Dr Mohamed said. A visibly emotional Alyn revealed he was feeling "scared".
Alyn became visibly upset after he was told there was a risk he would become blind following the operation
(Image: BBC )
After Dr Mohamed had spoken to the family, he said that seeing Alyn's wife and son with him became his motivation to do a "good job".
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When Alyn came round following the long surgery, he instantly remembered Dr Amr, his neurosurgeon.
With a beam of light, Amr tested Alyn's eyesight, who confirmed he was able to see the light and move his left eye.
Six weeks after removing the brain tumour, Alyn had returned to see Dr Amr Mohamed and to find out the results of the biopsies taken during the surgery.
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The neurosurgeon was able to confirm that the tumour was benign.
"I'm a terrible worrier," Alyn told Dr Amr. "And you've kept me confident that this is all going to go okay in the end, and it has. So yeah, I'm really pleased, thank you very much."
Reflecting after the appointment with the neurosurgeon, an emotional Alyn said: "It's been a horrible few months. Just can't wait to put it all behind me. It's been tough. I'm just looking forward to having some fun now."
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Saving Lives in Cardiff continues on BBC One Wales at 9pm on Monday, May 5.