An accountant owes his sight to an optician who spotted a serious defect during a routine examination.

Father-of-two Phillip Holmes was found to have a detached retina in his right eye. Because he already has very poor sight in his left eye, losing vision in his other would have left him blind.

He was referred straight to Leeds General Infirmary and had an operation to correct the fault.

Anjham Akbar, ophthalmic director at Specsavers in Morrisons, Guiseley, said he realised soon into the examination something was wrong.

"I noticed quite a large tear in his right retina and it posed an immediate threat to his vision."

He said Mr Holmes was not suffering from any other symptoms to suggest there was a problem.

Mr Holmes, 36, of Yeadon, said he did not realise the seriousness of the situation until he was told to see his doctor immediately and then sent to hospital the same day.

The specialist confirmed he needed an operation and would have to go on the waiting list.

"But when I explained if anything did happen I would be left more or less blind, the surgery was brought forward."

During the operation, a piece of silicone was put into the bottom of Mr Holmes's eye to push back the retina and the tears were mended.

Though it has left his vision worse than before, he now knows there is no danger to his sight. "It was such a shock to find out about the problem - I knew that if my sight had gone my job, driving a car, everything would have to stop."

He said he was "thrilled to bits" that Mr Akbar had found the problem.

Mr Akbar said he had seen the condition a few times before - including 15-year-old Yeadon diving champion Samantha Higgins, who also needed surgery. But Mr Holmes's case was more serious because it could have meant a complete loss of sight. "This is probably the most rewarding part of the job, picking something up that if I had missed it would have had a massive impact on his life."