A SCHOOLGIRL has been left almost blind in one eye after her optician allegedly failed to spot an obvious defect.

North-East optician Stuart Maxwell could now be struck off over allegations that he failed to administer the proper treatment for amblyopia, known as lazy eye, over a three-year period.

Mr Maxwell saw the youngster at his Spectacle Warehouse practice in Victoria Street, Hartlepool, when she was aged between four and seven.

But when another optometrist, Tony Saunders, later tested the girl's eyes, he was shocked by what he found.

At a hearing before the General Optical Council (GOC) in London yesterday, Mr Saunders said: "When it came to testing her eyes, it was found there was really no vision in the right eye, with or without glasses."

The professional misconduct hearing heard the girl had developed the condition, which had ultimately caused a severe reduction in her vision, because of a lack of use.

Mr Maxwell faces an extensive charge sheet detailing 124 separate incidents where he is said to have mismanaged and failed to treat the girl adequately.

He also faces an overall charge of serious professional misconduct. If found guilty, he could be struck off.

Dr Chris Alder, for the GOC, told the hearing: "Patient care is not one that should be based on luck."

Mr Alder told how Mr Maxwell first treated the girl on February 23, 1999, when she was four. He prescribed glasses to correct her sight, but allegedly failed to diagnose or properly test for any signs of vision loss in her right eye.

He last saw her on August 17, 2002, by which time the damage to her right eye was extensive.

"Certain fundamental tests have not been performed, and records of these particular tests have not been made clear in the records," said Mr Alder.

"She should have either been treated for her condition of amblyopia, or she should have been referred for assessment to a GP."

Mr Alder said the condition would have been present in the girl's eye from her very first visit.

Mr Maxwell is also accused of failing to refer the girl to Caroline Street Children's Clinic, where she could have received treatment for her condition.

In a letter to the GOC in September last year, Mr Maxwell claimed he did refer her, and that there was a note to prove it on the girl's medical records.

But Mr Alder said handwriting analysis showed the note was "clearly made in different handwriting and in different ink".

He said the clinic did not have any record of the referral, nor was there any note in her medical file.

The hearing was told that Mr Maxwell sold the clinic to Mr Saunders at the end of 2003. It has since moved to new premises.

The hearing continues.