Statistics show that around 120,000 people have laser eye surgery in the UK each year, and NHS statistics show that less than 5% of people have any problems – so overall, laser eye surgery is generally deemed as safe.
But some people who have suffered with problems may have been the victim of negligence – so here is a little advice on the topic if you have suffered as a result of laser eye surgery gone wrong.
There are many potential complications associated with laser eye surgery, but severe loss of vision is largely said to be extremely rare. Risks that are associated can be:
- Blurred or foggy vision
- Reduction in the overall quality of vision
- Vision problems at night
- Loss of sight through complications with either the device or revision surgery
- Scarring through the incision which can cause problems with the eye
If you have suffered with any form of complication then we need to identify if you were the victim of negligence or the unfortunate victim of an inherent risk. If we can prove any of the following though, you may have a claim for personal injury compensation:
- You have been fitted with the wrong type of lens to correct your eyesight
- A surgical mistake has led to an injury
- You were not properly informed about the risks of the surgery
The last one about not being properly informed is an important one and has been the subject of a lot of recent media reports. High street chain Optical Express are currently the subject of ongoing complaints and have recently been ordered to pay £500,000 to one former patient who has sued them for not being properly informed about the potential risks of the procedure.
They are also the subject of enforcement action from the Information Commissioner after an intensive marketing campaign in recent years were people have the opportunity to win free laser eye surgery treatment. Many who have received such texts have reported that their information has been passed to Optical Express either without their consent, or that they are the recipient of cold texting.
I myself have received such a message last year and I have no idea how they got my details. I don’t even wear glasses and have excellent vision.
If you have suffered as a result of negligent treatment or poor advice involving laser eye surgery you can contact our specialist personal injury team on 0800 634 7575 for help and advice.
