Untreated Post-Surgical Complications
Lack of Follow-Up Care Resulting in Eye Surgery Injury
The procedure went fine, or so the doctor said. You are given a prescription for eye drops and sent on your way. For many people who have suffered serious complications of Lasik vision correction or other eye surgeries, that's the last they ever saw of the ophthalmologist who performed the operation.
The law firm of Hill & Associates, P.C. will represent clients in medical malpractice lawsuits involving surgical procedures on the eyes (refractive surgery, cataract surgery, cornea transplant). We know that follow-up care is critically important to avoiding adverse outcomes. Medical errors in the surgery itself or unforeseen complications may not surface until days, weeks or months later - but they can often be corrected if discovered and treated promptly.
If you have suffered vision loss or other complications because of a lack of follow-up care, you may have a lawsuit for damages. Based in Philadelphia, we represent eye surgery injury victims throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Negligent Follow-Up Care After Eye Surgery
The doctor, eye clinic or hospital should touch base with the patient within 24 to 48 hours, and the patient should be seen in person by a physician within a week or less, depending on the type of surgery. The operating physician (ophthalmologist) is best qualified to gauge whether the eye is healing correctly or whether symptoms are cause for concern. At a minimum, a Doctor of Optometry should examine the eye. There should also be regular follow-up visits in the weeks and months after surgery.
Patients should leave the clinic with a list of aftercare instructions for the first week; ideally a doctor or at least a nurse should go over these items verbally:
- Avoid rubbing the eyes
- Avoid dust, smoke, makeup and other irritants
- Keep eyes lubricated at prescribed intervals
- Avoid water, especially chlorinated water
- Avoid contact sports or exertion
Patients should also have a list of symptoms that could be signs of complications, such as discharge or bleeding, severe pain or blurred vision, to name a few. Such side effects should be reported to the doctor, who should request to see the patient. A failure in follow-up care can result in infection, scarring or incorrect healing, which in turn may cause irreversible damage to vision or require re-treatment (more surgery) several months later.
A good eye doctor, one who is more interested in patient well-being than making a profit, knows that vision surgery is not "routine" and that follow-up care is critical.
Contact Hill & Associates, P.C. at 866-720-4699 or contact us online if you developed post-operative complications of surgery that went untreated because of medical negligence. We provide a free initial consultation, serving clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
