An Eye Exam Saved My Life

Linda M. thought a few mild, “on-and-off “headaches simply meant she needed a new pair of glasses. What she couldn't have known was that a comprehensive eye exam with Dr. Bruce Savin at Vision Clinic Dr. Savin & Associates in Racine was about to save her life.

Linda confessed that “it had been years” since her last eye exam. What followed was a swift and critical discovery. Dr. Savin, with decades of experience and utilizing state-of-the-art technology, discovered a darkened area in her far peripheral retina and immediately referred her to a specialist.

The very next day, Linda was seen at The Eye Institute, Milwaukee Medical College. "Within hours it was diagnosed as melanoma of the eye. What a shock it is to hear those words and then in the next breath they want to make sure it hasn't metastasized."

The agonizing wait for MRI and PET scan results felt like an eternity. Gratefully, Linda was cancer-free other than her eye. Due to the size and shape of the tumor, the difficult decision was made: complete removal of the eye (enucleation) offered the best chance for a full recovery.

The Unseen Threat

Most people are unaware of ocular melanoma, mistakenly believing melanoma only affects the skin. The doctors at The Eye Institute confirmed its rarity, striking only eight people for every million. "I should be so lucky to win the lottery!" Linda reflects on the staggering odds.

Linda's experience underscores a critical message: the importance of regular, dilated eye exams.

"It had been a number of years since I had my eyes dilated and now I'm on a mission to advise everyone to do so," Linda emphasizes. She admits she used to think of eye exams purely for reading glasses, unaware of the deeper health insights they provide. Her tumor may have been present for years without obvious symptoms.

A Profound Awakening

While the physical and emotional journey of losing an eye has been challenging – from painful swelling and multiple surgeries to adjustments in depth perception and night driving – Linda’s story is ultimately one of resilience and profound gratitude.

"Thanks to Dr. Bruce Savin, giving me a routine eye exam, he discovered this abnormality and fortunately the cancer was contained to just the eye," she states with deep appreciation.