What are the most common issues in Lasik eye surgery?

By Greg Kohn
Partner

Lasik surgery is intended to help individuals with poor eyesight restore their vision. Doctors advertise the surgery as a safe procedure that restores your sight so that you can stop using eyeglasses or contacts. Unfortunately, mistakes occur that result in injuries. Our New Jersey Lasik surgery malpractice lawyers represent clients who have been severely injured during Lasik surgery. If you have been injured, we want to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.

What is Lasik Surgery?

A person’s vision can be impaired for a variety of reasons. In some cases, a person who wears contacts or eyeglasses may improve their vision with Lasik surgery. During a Lasik procedure, a doctor uses a laser to reshape the cornea to improve vision. However, Lasik surgery has risks, and not everyone is a suitable candidate for the surgery. A doctor should discuss the risks of the procedure, in addition to the potential benefits, with the patient prior to performing the surgery.

A patient has the right to have all information about a medical procedure so that he or she can make an informed decision whether to proceed. One of the mistakes a doctor can make regarding a Lasik procedure is the failure to provide all information and obtain informed consent from the patient. If you have been injured due to the doctor’s negligence when performing this procedure, it would be wise to retain a New Jersey lasik eye surgery malpractice lawyer.

Mistakes and Surgery Errors During the Lasik Process

If a provider cuts corners, uses faulty equipment, or hires untrained staff members, the result can be catastrophic for patients. Some patients may lose their sight permanently, be forced to wear corrective lenses, or sustain partial loss or impairment of vision. Mistakes and surgery errors during Lasik procedures can result in life-altering injuries.

There are several stages involved in Lasik surgery. Mistakes can be made during the screening process. If a candidate for Lasik surgery is not screened thoroughly, the patient can suffer severe injury because of the procedure. For instance, if a doctor fails to screen for keratoconus (a condition in which the cornea becomes thinner and changes shape), the patient can suffer severe injury and permanent impaired vision.

Physicians also make mistakes during the surgery. A patient could be blinded or suffer impaired vision if a surgeon’s focus strays during the procedure. A doctor who is not focused could sever the optic nerve with the laser causing permanent vision loss. Another mistake made during the procedure is using the incorrect tools to perform a technique. Inadequate follow-up after the procedure can also cause unnecessary injuries.

What Can Happen When Lasik Goes Wrong?

Because each patient is different, the injuries you may suffer because of Lasik mistakes can differ from the injuries suffered by other patients. However, some of the common Lasik injuries that can result from mistakes and malpractice include:

  • Double vision
  • Poor night vision
  • Burning of the cornea and eye
  • Blurriness
  • Chronic pain
  • Seeing halos or star bursts
  • Overcorrection, undercorrection, or astigmatism
  • Permanent blindness
  • Dry eyes
  • Inability to perceive depth
  • Inability to see contrast

Sadly, many of the Lasik injuries that result from carelessness or negligence cannot be repaired. Negligence and carelessness by Lasik physicians can result in a permanent impairment.

Obtaining Damages in a Lasik Lawsuit or Claim

If you have been injured because of a Lasik procedure, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. Damages in a personal injury claim for Lasik injuries may include medical expenses, personal care, loss of income, mental anguish, physical pain, and future damages. Because the loss of vision can impair your ability to earn a living, your future damages could be substantial.

New Jersey Lasik Injury Attorney Fighting for Injured Lasik Victims

No one should suffer vision loss because of the negligence or carelessness of a Lasik provider. If you have suffered Lasik injuries, contact the New Jersey medical malpractice attorneys at Nagel Rice, LLP for a free consultation and no-obligation case review.  We want to help you receive the compensation you deserve for a medical malpractice claim.

About the Author
Greg Kohn is a partner at Nagel Rice and specializes in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, class actions, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation.  He has extensive experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Greg has tried many jury trials to verdict and has recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts in all types of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, and other catastrophic injury cases. Greg also handles medical malpractice cases, involving misdiagnoses, wrongful birth, and delayed cancer diagnosis. If you have questions regarding this article, you can contact Greg here.