When laser eye surgery or lens replacement surgery goes wrong it can have a devastating effect, and if you have suffered loss as a result of laser eye surgery in the UK, Friends Legal can help you to bring a claim for compensation. We have a specialist eye injury team who deal with laser eye surgery claims day in day out across the UK, bringing claims against even the biggest high street surgery providers – We regularly pursue cases against Optical Express and Optimax. Our lawyers can pursue your claim efficiently whilst obtaining the maximum compensation owed to you, thanks to our expertise in dealing with defenders and their insurers and building a strong case on behalf of our clients.
To discuss your specific case with a specialist claims lawyer, call us now on 0333 3580 583 or complete our online enquiry form, and we will get back to you without delay. We’re here to help.
Making a Laser Eye Surgery Claim in the UK
We understand that making a claim following negligent laser or lens replacement eye surgery may seem daunting, but we will make the process as straightforward as possible for you. When you get in contact with our team, we will take the time to understand what happened fully. After an initial consultation, our solicitors will then be able to advise you as to whether your claim has a good chance of succeeding and also whether we can work with you on a no win, no fee basis. There is no obligation to continue with your claim at this stage. We can help clients with:
- Laser Eye Surgery Claims in England and Wales
- Laser Eye Surgery Claims in Scotland
We will build a strong case on your behalf and negotiate fiercely with the other party’s insurers to ensure you receive the maximum compensation owed to you. Our team are supportive and understanding, and we will be here for you throughout the process of bringing your claim.
Lack of Informed Consent
If your practitioner has failed to properly inform you of the risks involved in having laser or lens replacement eye surgery, or where they failed to let you know about alternative treatment options available to you, you may be able to bring a claim even if they did everything correctly during and after the procedure. This is known as a lack of informed consent.
How Much Could I Claim?
We will explore every way in which you have suffered loss and may continue to suffer loss in the future. We pride ourselves on getting clients the compensation they deserve and will include each of the following in your claim where appropriate:
- Compensation for your injury
- Past loss of earnings and future loss of earnings
- Reclaiming the cost of your unsuccessful surgery
- Private medical treatment costs
- Transport costs
- Out of pocket expenses such as glasses, sunglasses, eye drops, pain medication or transport to medical appointments
- Assistance and care provided by family members as a consequence of your injury
This list is not exhaustive, but you can be sure Friends Legal will get you the maximum compensation owed to you.
For example, in 2014 a 28-year-old woman called Stephanie Holloway was awarded over half a million pounds in compensation by a court after unsuccessful laser eye surgery at Optical Express. The court assessed her claim to have a value of £567,287 – a large part of which was to compensate Judge ruled her for future loss of earnings.
In that case, Judge Bailey said “She has experienced an almost complete return of her serious myopia. She suffers from haze, that is a visual blurring in both eyes. This reduces her acuity by about 50 per cent in her right eye, and 30 per cent in the left. She has significant photophobia. There is little prospect of improvement. Her life has been blighted.” The judge went on to say “Miss Holloway was not given sufficient information about the treatment and the risk of complications for the process of informed consent… The defendants were, therefore, in breach of their duty to give a sufficient explanation of the treatment proposed and of the risks of complications inherent in that treatment such as to enable the claimant to give informed consent.”
What Can Give Rise to a Claim for Negligence During Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery claims can be complicated. There are many circumstances and complications which may amount to clinical negligence. We routinely assist clients where the following has happened:
- Where the surgery provider has not taken into account an existing eye condition such as dry eyes, or keratoconus
- Where you are an unsuitable patient for the surgery, but it has been carried out anyway. You might be unsuitable for example if your corneas were too thin to allow surgery to be performed safely
- Where the surgeon was negligent during surgery e.g., by failing to center the laser correctly, or by failing to take into account the size of your pupils.
- Where the surgeon has failed to consider the pre-surgery eye prescription or the scans of the patient’s eyes
- Where the practitioner failed to tell you about the risks and alternatives to the surgery
- Where the aftercare fell below an acceptable standard
- Where a mistake is made in diagnosing a condition
- Where there is a delay in recognising and treating a condition such as endophthalmitis
- Where your medical history and the condition of your eyes led to you being at an elevated risk of certain complications or adverse events occurring, and you were not warned of this in advance
It can be difficult to understand exactly what has gone wrong, but our specialists will discuss your case with you fully to determine whether you have a good claim.
What Can Give Rise to a Claim for Negligence During Lens Replacement Surgery?
- Where you have been fitted with the wrong type of lens for your needs
- Where a complication occurs during surgery due to lack of care or accuracy
- Where you were not properly informed of the outcome to expect following surgery
What Types of Injury Can I Make a Laser Eye Surgery Claim For?
We often help clients to bring a claim where they suffer the following complications:
- Infection
- Full or partial vision loss
- Loss of visual acuity (loss of near vision or loss of distance vision) that cannot be corrected with a spectacle prescription
- Loss of quality of vision
- Blurry, greasy or waxy vision
- Visual disturbances such as glare, haloes and starburst, ghosting and double vision.
- Dry eye disease
- Painful eyes with feeling of foreign body in the eye, grittiness or excessive eye watering
- Corneal neuralgia, corneal neuropathy, ocular neuropathic pain
- Poor night vision
- Inability to drive at night due to starbursts, glare and haloes around lights
- Loss of contrast perception
- Retinal detachment
- Floaters
- Eyelids drooping
- Double vision or ghosting that does not go away
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
Contact Us for a Free Initial Assessment & Advice from Our Specialist Eye Team
We have a specialist eye injury team who deal with these cases regularly across the UK, bringing claims against small private laser eye surgery providers as well as the large High Street chains. We understand the impact your personal injury may have had on your life and the lives of your loved ones, and we will fight to get you the maximum compensation you are owed.
To get started with your claim today, contact us today by calling 0333 3580 583 or complete our online enquiry form and a member of our team will get back to you right away. We’re here to help.
