One of the most common eye procedures nowadays is laser eye surgery; which does come with its own unique set of risks and potential complications. Laser eye surgery is a common vision correction procedure. It is a popular procedure for those suffering from long and short sightedness. As with any medical or surgical procedure, you should be made aware of the risks and potential side effects before deciding to proceed. It is always a balancing act between choosing to live with a problem or deciding to have surgery in the hope to correct a problem. The first laser was approved for laser eye surgery in 1998, therefore the long term safety and effectiveness of laser eye surgery is relatively unknown.
Some specific risks include the following: Some patients may lose lines of vision and this cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery. Some patients develop double vision or halos. Some patients may require additional treatment as only a certain percentage of people achieve 20/20 vision without the use of glasses or contact lenses. Some patients can develop dry eye syndrome which can cause irritation, intermittent blurring and other symptoms. Of course there are many other potential risks and complications.
Vision correction surgery can be seen as a cosmetic procedure as if a person’s vision is good he or she does not have to wear glasses or use contact lenses. However vision correction surgery can treat certain other medical conditions – so it is not always a cosmetic procedure.
If you have undergone corrective eye surgery and you have suffered injury, are left in pain or discomfort, then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Unfortunately we are seeing more and more injuries following negligent and botched surgical treatments. Reports suggest that some claims arise out of patients unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved. However some claims arise out of poor surgery and in reality, each and every case is different. It is imperative that you seek advice from experienced personal injury lawyers. Patient expectations need to be managed better and this can be done by fully explaining the potential benefits and potential risks of surgery. As with any surgical procedure, there is never a guarantee of achieving the desired result.
We deal with many different types of medical negligence claims. We can assess your claim for free so do not hesitate to give us a call. In terms of bringing a claim, time limits are usually in place. Therefore we would always advise you to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
