Lasik Malpractice

When it comes to the most popular elective medical procedures out there right now, LASIK eye surgery is up there right at the top. Countless millions choose to throw their glasses out every year by having LASIK procedures done on their eyes, but there’s an unfortunate result: the number of LASIK malpractice lawsuits brought against surgeons or facilities where the procedure is performed have been growing in the years since LASIK was invented. Here’s some important information about the eye surgery, LASIK malpractice, and other related topics.

A Laser-Assisted Medical Procedure

LASIK, which stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, was originally developed in 1990 by a pair of Greek doctors. The procedure involves making a surgical incision in the eye’s corneal tissue and then using a laser to reshape the eye itself. Visual conditions treatable by LASIK include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism, all of which are common conditions that can also be remedied through the use of corrective lenses.

When it comes to complications caused by LASIK procedures, most will subside after a few weeks of recovery time. However, there have been a significant number of patients who have reported experiencing more long-term or even permanent complications like pain, light sensitivity, macular holes, dry eyes and blurry vision, or even blindness. While there’s no official complication rate, some LASIK surgeons claim a rate of around one percent, though many feel that statistic is much too conservative.

What Constituted LASIK Malpractice

When it comes to LASIK surgery cases, it can only be legally termed malpractice if a surgeon or a doctor neglects to provide the right standard of care for a patient and that neglect results in a patient’s injury. It’s uncommon that an injury from a LASIK surgery results from the actual procedure itself; the true danger comes from when doctors or surgeons don’t properly identify pre-existing conditions in patients that make it too dangerous to perform the procedure in the first place.

One of the most common conditions that contraindicate the use of LASIK surgery is known as keratoconus, which means that the cornea of a patient is cone-shaped. Any number of other corneal defects can make it difficult for LASIK surgery to be successful, and errors in pre-surgical screening for these corneal defects are one of the ways that LASIK surgeons most commonly make mistakes that could lead to cases of LASIK malpractice.

Talking to a LASIK Malpractice Lawyer

If you feel that your LASIK procedure has been botched, you should immediately contact a skilled and qualified law firm or attorney that deals in medical negligence cases. Lawyers with specific experience in LASIK malpractice cases are preferred, as these experts will be able to review your medical records and make a determination as to whether there’s a basis for a claim to be made against those responsible for your injury.

LASIK injury cases can result in very large compensation amounts, especially if the damage done to your vision is moderate or severe. Vision impairment is a major disability, which can not only result in lost wages but increased medical expenses accrued by attempts to rectify the damage but also pain and suffering from the loss of eyesight. Considering that if the damage to your eyes can prevent you from engaging in everyday activities such as reading, watching television, enjoying movies, or driving safely, a LASIK malpractice case can carry stiff penalties and punitive damages for a defendant found guilty of medical negligence.