New Jersey Eye Surgery Malpractice Lawyers
Eye surgery requires steady hands and great expertise. We protect the rights of those who have lost part or all of their vision due to malpractice of eye surgeons. The three most common types of surgery are to remove cataracts, to repair a detached retina, and to reduce the need to wear corrective lenses with LASIK.
Cataract Eye Surgery Malpractice
A cataract is a disease that makes the lens of the eye cloudy. The lens focuses our vision, so when it clouds over vision becomes foggy. During cataract surgery, a tiny slit is made on the side of the eye. Ultrasound is used to break apart the cloudy lens. The pieces of the lens are vacuumed out of the eye and a new lens is inserted in its place. Although cataract surgery has been performed for decades, it can go wrong and have dreadful complications for patients, such as:
- Chronic inflammation of the eye.
- Fluctuations in eye pressure.
- Swelling of the retina.
- Retinal detachment.
Any of these complications during or after eye surgery can cause a significant loss of vision. Careful follow-up care after cataract surgery is necessary to monitor the replacement lens to ensure it does not move and to make sure it is working correctly. If the lens slides around in the fragile bag that holds it, it may have to be repositioned or replaced entirely. If you have a poor result after cataract surgery, contact our medical malpractice lawyers to discuss whether it is the result of medical surgery malpractice.
Retinal Detachment Eye Surgery Malpractice
As the name implies, retinal detachment occurs when the retina becomes detached from the eye due to a tear. Retinal detachment can be caused in several ways:
- Injury.
- Contraction or shrinkage of the vitreous jelly.
- Inflammation of the eye.
- Advanced diabetes.
It is critical to diagnose and treat retinal detachment quickly. Delayed diagnosis or delayed treatment allows the tear to get bigger, which reduces the likelihood of successful eye surgery to reattach the retina. The sole treatment for a detached retina is eye surgery, hopefully before any loss of vision occurs. It is medical malpractice for a New Jersey doctor to diagnose a detached retina, but not to timely operate to correct the condition.
LASIK Eye Surgery Malpractice
LASIK stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis. It is an increasingly popular elective eye surgery, intended to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. During the surgery, the cornea is reshaped by a laser so light will be correctly focused on the retina, correcting the patient’s vision.
LASIK eye surgery is usually successful, but it can have complications, including:
- Dry eyes.
- Fluctuating vision.
- Problems seeing at night.
- Seeing halos around images.
- Glare.
It is claimed that LASIK surgery eliminates the need for corrective lenses, however, that is not always the case. The patient will usually still require glasses for reading or night driving.
LASIK surgery malpractice occurs when a person was not a proper candidate for the eye surgery, was not carefully evaluated, or was not warned of the true surgical risks. Poor results can occur from a lack of proper attention or post-surgery issues, such as inflammation, infection, and uneven corneal tissue.
As with any procedure, eye surgery can be performed carelessly. Muscles can be inadvertently cut, causing problems blinking or keeping the eyes closed, drooping eye, or crossed eyes. The optic nerve can be injured during the procedure, blinding the patient permanently.
At Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman, we have won many lawsuits involving eye surgery malpractice. We have also been named to the Best New Jersey Medical Malpractice Attorneys list by the Best Lawyers in America, and we have a proven track record of winning multi-million dollar settlements for our clients, such as a $3.9 million settlement for a woman whose doctor severed the medial rectus muscle of her eye, causing double vision and chronic pain. In another case, we recovered $2.1 million for a New Jersey man who was rendered legally blind at the age of forty-seven due to a botched LASIK procedure. We believe this is the largest LASIK surgery malpractice recovery in New Jersey and one of the largest in the nation’s history.
Eye Surgery Malpractice Lawsuits in NJ
If you or a loved one has been the victim of eye surgery malpractice, contact Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman. One of our talented lawyers will respond as soon as possible to discuss your case.