"I'd Cry If I Could"
Chronic Dry Eye as a Lasik Complication
Dry eyes is the most common side effect of Lasik surgery. For the majority of clients, it is a bothersome but temporary symptom that resolves within weeks of the surgery.
But for a small percentage of patients, the eye's tear function is permanently disrupted. Blinking doesn't help. Eye drops must be constantly applied. Exposure to air can be painful, not to mention dust. Sleep becomes impossible and life miserable. A few have even been driven to suicide.
If you are still suffering from chronic dry eyes months after your Lasik operation, contact the dedicated and compassionate eye surgery injury attorneys of Hill & Associates, P.C. We will work to secure compensation for dry eye syndrome and other adverse side effects of surgery.
What Causes Dry Eye Syndrome?
The corneal nerve, which controls the tear-producing lacrimal glands, is damaged during refractive surgery, disrupting the normal flow of moisture over the surface of the eye. Patients report varying degrees of dry eye syndrome — from redness and itching to blurry vision or the phantom sensation of something stuck in the eye. For most patients, the corneal nerve heals and normal tear production resumes within a few weeks.
But sometimes the corneal nerve does not recover to send regular impulses to the lacrimal gland, or the tear duct itself stops working properly. Chronic dry eye can be excruciating and maddening, and can lead to infection or impaired vision.
Treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome
A healthy eye functions sort of like a filtered swimming pool. Fresh tears are pumped in by the lacrimal glands in the corner of the eye while the punctum in the lower eyelid drains the used tears. The punctual duct regulates the amount of tears available to bathe the eye — too much fluid would cause constant weeping, too little leads to dry eye.
Chronic but mild dry eye may be treated by prescription eye drops or over-the-counter artificial tears. For more serious dry eye, an ophthalmologist can insert punctal plugs to keep more tears "in the pool." As a last resort, dry eye surgery may be required to permanently fuse the punctal duct shut.
If Dry Eye is Normal, How Can I Sue?
- Doctor error or laser malfunction may have directly damaged the corneal nerve beyond repair.
- Anyone with a history of dry eye problems should probably not have Lasik surgery.
- Women going through menopause or taking birth control, and people who wore contact lenses before surgery, are more prone to dry eye after surgery.
If the doctor failed to ask about existing dry eye or other risk factors, or if you were a bad candidate for Lasik for any reason, you may have grounds for a lawsuit if you now suffer from chronic dry eye syndrome.
Damages may cover the cost of any surgical repair or ongoing treatment, as well as compensation for vision impairment and the adverse impact on your life.
Call Leonard Hill and his fellow trial lawyers at 866-720-4699 or contact us online. We offer a free initial consultation to determine if you have a valid lawsuit for eye surgery malpractice. Our Philadelphia firm handles cases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
