LASIK eye surgery promises clear vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, things can go wrong, and a failed LASIK procedure can leave patients with painful and long-term complications.
If you’re experiencing problems after a LASIK procedure that you feel has failed you, it’s important to recognise whether the outcome was an unavoidable risk or due to substandard treatment.
In this article, we’ll look at four common causes of LASIK eye surgery negligence:
- Inadequate patient screening
- Failure to obtain proper informed consent
- Surgical errors during the procedure
- Poor post-operative care
Knowing where clinical negligence occurs can help you understand whether you may be eligible to bring a LASIK eye surgery negligence claim.
Failure to properly assess patient suitability
You might assume that when LASIK surgery goes wrong, the error happened during the operation itself. However, many LASIK negligence cases begin before the laser is even turned on.
A large number of LASIK malpractice claims involve missed contraindications pre-existing patient conditions that increase the risk of complications and reduce the chance of success.
A thorough pre-operative evaluation will identify patients who are unsuitable for LASIK eye surgery. This assessment typically includes:
- Corneal topography and thickness mapping
- Pupil size measurement in dim lighting
- Tear film evaluation for dry eyes
- Retinal health check
- Refractive stability over time
What are the consequences of inadequate pre-op assessments in LASIK procedures?
Poor pre-operative assessments can lead to severe vision complications that may be permanent.
A LASIK surgery that occurs after an insufficient pre-surgery evaluation can lead to:
- Corneal ectasia: weakening and bulging of the cornea
- Severe dry eyes that don’t improve with treatment
- Night vision problems, including halos and glare
- Undercorrection or overcorrection that impacts day-to-day vision
Proceeding with LASIK surgery on a patient with disqualifying conditions may be classed as medical negligence, especially if known red flags were ignored.
Your quality of life can be significantly impacted — including your ability to drive, work, or perform daily activities safely. Additionally, these complications often require expensive follow-up treatments.
Overlooking pre-existing eye conditions
Your ophthalmologist must identify existing eye conditions that would make LASIK unsuitable or risky for you. Certain conditions require complete avoidance of laser surgery, while others need careful monitoring.
What about my medical history?
Your surgeon should record any history of eye trauma, previous surgeries, or any conditions that may affect healing (e.g., autoimmune disorders and medications that can impact wound recovery).
Surgeons who overlook these factors may be liable for medical negligence.
Inadequate informed consent for LASIK surgery
Doctors must explain all significant risks, alternative treatments, and realistic expectations to patients before performing LASIK surgery.
What risks and alternatives should be disclosed?
All LASIK risks that could affect your decision to proceed with laser eye surgery should be addressed, ranging from common to serious complications:
- Dry eyes that may persist for months or years
- Night vision problems, including halos around lights
- Undercorrection or overcorrection that requires additional surgery
- Infection or delayed healing
Your eye surgeon cannot simply provide a consent form. They must explain the risks in a language you understand and give you the opportunity to ask any questions.
Good medical practice also requires that these conversations be documented in your medical records.
If these weren’t properly discussed, or you felt pressured into agreeing, you may have grounds for to claim for negligent laser eye surgery.
For example, in 2014, a 28-year-old woman was awarded more than half a million pounds in compensation, with the judge stating there was “absolutely no way” the claimant had been properly informed of the risks and possible complications associated with the surgery.
Lack of discussion regarding potential LASIK complications
Your doctor must discuss specific problems that could occur during or after, that would result in failed LASIK surgery. This goes beyond listing general risks on a form.
You should receive information about how LASIK complications would be managed if they happen, including follow-up care and any associated costs.
The discussion must be personalised to your specific risk factors; for example, patients with thin corneas or dry eyes face different risks that require specific explanation.
LASIK surgery errors
Now that we’ve discussed what can happen in the lead-up to the procedure, it’s important to examine what can go wrong during the surgery.
Surgical errors during laser eye procedures can be caused by multiple factors, from incorrect laser calibration to poor hygiene.
Flap complications and corneal damage
Creating the corneal flap is one of the most delicate parts of LASIK surgery. When surgeons make mistakes, you may experience:
- Thin or thick flaps that don’t heal properly
- Irregular flaps that cause vision disturbances
- Buttonholed or doughnut-shaped flaps
- Free caps where the flap is completely cut off
While flap complications are more likely to occur in the early post-operative period, there have been reports of traumatic dislocation 14 years after the LASIK procedure — highlighting the lifelong risk of such surgeries.
Incorrect laser application or calibration
The laser used in LASIK procedures must be precisely calibrated. Errors in programming or application can cause overcorrection or undercorrection of your vision.
Laser application issues include:
- Wrong power setting for your prescription
- Incorrect treatment zone size
- Poor alignment of the laser beam
- Inadequate tissue removal calculations
Some patients require corrective surgery after a failed LASIK procedure, though results are not always successful.
Equipment malfunction or failure
LASIK equipment requires regular maintenance and proper operation to ensure optimal performance. Without it, patients are at risk.
In one documented case, Alcon Laboratories completed a Class I recall for its Excimer laser systems used for LASIK procedures due to two faulty algorithms. These errors affected 89 eyes of 50 patients, causing ‘central islands’ and decreased visual acuity (a loss of sharpness).
Poor aftercare
The responsibility of your surgeon doesn’t end when the procedure does. LASIK negligence can happen when your medical professional fails to meet the standard of care expected after the surgery.
Your surgeon should schedule specific appointments to monitor your healing process. For example, your follow-up plan may include visits at:
- 24-48 hours post-surgery
- One week
- One month
- Three months
During these visits, your ophthalmologist should examine your corneal flap healing, check for signs of infection or inflammation, and measure your visual improvement.
Your medical records should document all of these post-operative visits and treatments.
Any missing or delayed care that leads to vision loss may constitute negligent LASIK surgery, particularly in cases where the complications were treatable.
Delayed or poor management of complications
Quick recognition and treatment of post-surgical complications are crucial for protecting your vision.
If you report worsening symptoms — whether it’s dry eyes that persist beyond normal healing time or corneal infections — your medical team should act immediately.
A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis can be considered a significant form of negligence in failed LASIK procedures.
Insufficient patient instructions after surgery
Clear and detailed instructions about post-operative care are crucial for successful LASIK recovery.
Post-op instructions usually cover:
- Eye drop schedules and proper application techniques
- Activities to avoid (like swimming and contact sports)
- When to remove protective eye shields
- Emergency contact information for urgent concerns
Vague instructions can lead you to inadvertently harm your healing eyes, such as rubbing your eyes too early and disrupting the corneal flap.
Your doctor should also provide written instructions in a language you can easily understand. Verbal instructions alone are insufficient for complex post-operative care requirements.
Contact Val Roberts, Our LASIK Negligence Expert
LASIK eye surgery negligence can lead to debilitating long-term effects that persist for years. The psychological impact can also be severe. Many patients develop anxiety about their vision or depression from reduced quality of life.
We understand that, and we’re here to help.
At Friends Legal, our specialist Val Roberts has gained a reputation for successfully defending eye surgery patients across the UK and comes highly recommended by various Ophthalmic Consultants and Surgeons.
Call on 0333 3580 583 or complete our form, and we’ll get back to you to discuss your LASIK negligence claim.
