15 April 2026
A mother has expressed her gratitude to an optometrist in Cumnock who made a life-saving emergency referral for her son, who was then discovered to have a brain tumour.
Debbie Millar took her son, Jack, to Shaw Eyecare, a Hakim Group independent practice, for a last-minute triage appointment as he had been experiencing recurring headaches that appeared to be becoming more severe.
Optometrist, Alan Beck, said: “Upon seeing Jack for his appointment, I had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right.”
An optical coherence tomography scan revealed Jack had swollen discs, Beck said: “which indicated there was a need for urgency.”
Beck made an urgent emergency referral to the local eye clinic, where Jack was seen the same day.
A CT scan revealed Jack had a large brain tumour, and he was sent to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to begin treatment.
Reflecting on the appointment, Beck shared: “Aside from the recurring headaches, Jack hadn’t been experiencing any other notable symptoms, so we’re really glad that Debbie brought Jack into practice and that we could ensure he received the attention he needed as soon as possible. We’re all hoping he does well in his recovery.”
Debbie Millar commented: “Having that eye test, and Alan being so thorough and making sure Jack was seen, I’d say that honestly went towards saving his life.”
She explained that the family have been patients at Shaw Eyecare for several years.
“I think they’re absolutely amazing. They went above and beyond, and I would never go to any other opticians. They even checked out my other children for me because I was so worked up. They didn’t leave anything to chance, and I just think they’ve been amazing,” Millar said.
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