Was This Surgery Wrong for You?
Lasik Surgery Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Some ophthalmologists perform as many as 10 Lasik procedures in a day. By scheduling back-to-back surgeries, these physicians simply don't allow enough time to consult with the patient, discuss the risks and rule out those who are unsuitable candidates for Lasik.
Patients can suffer greatly from this greedy haste — blindness, impaired vision, complications after surgery, or failure to improve vision.
The Philadelphia law firm of Hill & Associates, P.C. will represent clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey in eye surgery malpractice claims, including lawsuits demonstrating why the operation should not have been performed in the first place.
Unsuitable Lasik Candidates
Lasik surgery involves altering the shape of the cornea to correct myopia (nearsightedness from an overly steep cornea), hyperopia (farsightedness from a too-flat cornea) or astigmatism (distorted vision from an irregular curvature). Some people should not have Lasik surgery, period, or are at greater risk of vision loss or serious complications:
- Keratoconus — Patients with this condition, a gradual thinning and extension of the cornea, can become blind as the membrane further deteriorates after surgery. They should never have Lasik.
- Thin cornea — The cornea continues to bend after surgery. It must be sufficiently thick to withstand the procedure. The ophthalmologist should measure the width of the cornea before the surgery to (a) determine how much tissue to remove and (b) verify its thickness. Some doctors leave this task to medical technicians who may measure it incorrectly.
- Dry eyes — People who have a history of dry eyes are at greater risk for chronic or permanent dry eye syndrome after surgery.
- Large pupils — In Lasik surgery, incisions are cut and the top flap of the cornea is peeled back to remove the inner layers. The tiny scars from the incisions can overlap the area of a wide pupil, resulting in starbursts, halos, ghosts or double vision.
- Instability — The shape of the cornea changes throughout life. A person who has had a new prescription for glasses or contacts in the last 12 months is not a good candidate for Lasik.
- Glaucoma and other eye disease (or a family history of such) is a red flag for a prudent ophthalmologist.
- Prior eye surgery (refractive surgery, cataract surgery or other eye surgeries) may make a person an unsuitable candidate for Lasik.
- Past eye injury may also disqualify a person.
- Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, menopausal or on birth control should not have Lasik because hormone levels can affect the shape of the cornea.
- Anyone at higher risk of eye injury (participants in contact sports, for instance) should think twice about Lasik. An eye injury while healing could cause irreversible damage.
They Have No Right to Roll the Dice With YOUR Eyes!
For these and many other risk factors, Lasik surgery should not be taken lightly. It should be performed only after a comprehensive consultation — in person — with a qualified ophthalmologist.
Even if you signed an "informed consent" waiver prior to your surgery, you may have a case for malpractice if the doctor failed to address your risk factors or encouraged you to proceed with surgery in spite of known contraindications.
The experienced trial lawyers of Hill & Associates, P.C. have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases. If you now think you were an unsuitable candidate for Lasik, call 866-720-4699 or contact us online for a free initial consultation.
