A mum says an eye test saved her daughter's live after the optometrist spotted signs of a rare brain tumour.
Karen Lee-Johnston took her two-year-old for a check up after noticing she had a dilated pupil in her right eye.
Erika, who is known as Boo, had also been vomiting, was very thirsty and had regressed to crawling due to poor balance.
Thankfully, Vision Express optometrist Aaron Spears made an emergency hospital referral after spotting that the toddler was showing classic symptoms of a rare tumour.
Boo was diagnosed with a Craniopharyngioma tumour, which is most commonly found in children, with just 30 cases per year in the UK.
She had further tests at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow that day, including a CT scan which detected the condition, and an MRI scan to confirm the type and severity of the growth.
Doctors told Ms Lee-Johnston, 33, that her daughter could have died had the tumour gone undetected for another two weeks.
The family were told that Boo had completely lost her vision in her right eye and she underwent surgery to try and save the sight in her left eye.
Ms Lee-Johnston, a widowed mother of three, said: "One in 20 million get this type of tumour and even though it's benign, the oncologist said it's in a malignant place.
"Thankfully, following the surgery her sight came back in both eyes - it was a miracle.
"People don't believe me when I explain what has happened to our family and I suppose it is quite extraordinary, but it could happen to anyone.
"Her future won't be easy but she's alive and has her sight - Aaron saved her life."
Boo is due to start her first cycle of chemotherapy shortly to reduce the tumour further and it is hoped that the chemotherapy cycles with proton beam therapy will give the little girl's head and face more time to grow, so she can have a less invasive form of tumour surgery - a route through her nose leaving no scar and less risk associated overall.
Following the eye test on March 26 and surgery two days later, Ms Lee-Johnston, from Glasgow, is sharing her daughter's story as part of National Eye Health Week.
She urged others to pay attention to warning signs and have them checked.
Optometrist Aaron Spears said: "Boo was showing classic symptoms of a Craniopharyngioma tumour, which grows above the pituitary gland - a pea-sized gland that controls many vital functions.
"This explains why Boo was often unstable on her feet and was having optical issues. Thanks to the referral, she got her scans and the consultant phoned me back later to say I had made a good spot.
"Parents with any concerns for their children's sight should have it checked out at their local optician as soon as possible."
