Surgery on the eyes is becoming more and more common, whether for medical reasons, such as cataracts or retinal detachment, or to correct vision. Deterioration of or loss of sight can be a complication of eye surgery. When this happens, it can be devastating.
If a medical mistake during eye surgery has caused you suffering of this kind, our specialist medical negligence solicitors may be able to assist you to secure compensation to help you come to terms with your new circumstances.
Below, we have given information on some of the more common complaints made in clinical negligence cases concerning eye conditions and eye surgery. If you would like to discuss your particular case with one of our medical negligence specialists, call us now on 01924 882000, or email clinical.negligence@switalskis.com to arrange your consultation.
Cataracts impair vision, forming on the lens of the eye, which gradually turns grey-white and opaque, causing blindness. It is the major cause of blindness throughout the world. Surgery is not suitable for all cataract cases, however cataract surgery where it is used has a very high success rate.
Complications of cataract surgery can occur because of flawed surgical technique, or can be due to intrinsic pathological features within the eye. There are also risks associated with the administration of anaesthesia.
Where negligence may be the cause of flawed cataract surgery, our specialists may be able to assist you to secure compensation.
The retina is the layer at the back of the eye which is covered in light-sensitive nerve endings (called rods and cones) and their connective tissue. It transmits images along the optic nerve to the brain. Detachment of the retina from the back of the eye causes loss of vision. Characteristically the vision loss appears to the patient as a shadow or dark curtain spreading across the field of vision. The degree of detachment dictates the amount of the loss of vision. Early signs of retinal detachment are flashing light, which ceases when the separation is complete.
At around 10 years old children, and especially boys, can develop reduced vision in one eye due to retinal detachment. In these cases, because the detachment does not happen rapidly, misdiagnosis is a strong possibility unless the eye is examined properly.
Early diagnosis can have a significant impact on whether sight can be restored or preserved. Usually, patients consult an optician first. Opticians should complete a thorough examination of the eye and inform the patient's GP that the matter needs urgent attention from an opthalmologist. The GP should arrange an appointment at the earliest possible date.
Failure to diagnose, or to treat retinal detachment, and failure or delay in referring to an appropriate specialist, or failure to find retinal breaks, could constitute medical negligence.
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. It is a disorder in which there is bleeding and the formation of new blood vessels and tissue in the retina. it can cause blindness, and should be regularly monitored in order that surgical intervention can be made at the appropriate time.
Photocoagulation is used to treat diabetic retinopathy. The technique uses lasers to weld tissue within the eye. It is a highly beneficial treatment if carried out effectively, and failure to treat with photocoagulation could lead to loss of sight.
However, damage to vision can be caused during photocoagulation if the laser strays into the wrong area of the eye.
In cases of glaucoma, there is abnormally high pressure in the eye. In acute cases it causes eye pain, redness, blurry vision, and dilation of the pupil. Other symptoms may include sickness and vomiting. Untreated, acute glaucoma can result in permanent blindness within five days or fewer.
In chronic cases, typical symptoms are a gradual loss of peripheral vision over a number of years, headaches, blurry vision and dull eye pain. Sufferers may also see halos around lights and central blindness may eventually develop
The loss of vision caused by glaucoma can be mistaken for cataracts, leading to failure to measure pressure in the eyes, or the measurement of the field of vision. This delay in diagnosis ultimately results in delayed treatment which may cause harm in some cases.
Making a complaint about Medical Negligence
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