Eye Injuries & Healthcare Malpractice
Your sight is precious. Eye injuries and eye diseases can mean severe consequences for you, including preventing you from living your life the way you want to.
Glaucoma is a condition of the eye where increased intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve. It affects over three million Americans. There are warning signs and tests for glaucoma that your doctor or ophthalmologist should note and perform. These signs include blurred vision, headaches, halos around lights and high intraocular pressure. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or ophthalmologist to recognize these signs and take preventative actions. If this condition is not properly diagnosed, not treated in a timely manner or not properly treated altogether (either with medication or surgery), the results can include partial blindness, complete blindness and even the removal of the eye itself.
A cataract is a clouding (or gradual loss of transparency) of the eye’s lens, resulting in a loss of vision or blurry, unfocused vision. It is a very common condition, particularly among the elderly. Surgery to remove cataracts is the most frequently performed surgery in America and has a very high success rate. However, improperly performed cataract surgery can result in complications as serious as total loss of sight.
Anesthesia is often used during eye surgery, and may be administered by inserting a needle near the eye (called a retro-bulbar or peri-bulbar injection). It is the responsibility of the treating surgeon or anesthesiologist to inform the patient of the risks associated with anesthesia and to perform the procedure in a manner consistent with the acceptable standard of care. If the procedure is performed improperly, the needle can be misdirected or not inserted correctly and can cause major bleeding, optic nerve damage and loss of vision.
If you or a loved one believe you have been involved in a medical malpractice incident, please call us at 1.800.966.4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
