Failed Cataract Surgery: Cataract Surgery Medical Malpractice

Cataracts are the clouding of normally clear lenses of the eye.  People who have cataracts experience it as if looking through a frosty or fogged-up window.  Having cataracts makes it more difficult to read, drive a car, or see the expressions on people’s faces.  Since cataracts usually develop slowly, a person’s vision will not be disturbed early on.  However, a person’s vision will eventually be interfered with.  When cataracts first begin to affect a person’s vision, stronger lighting and eyeglasses can help the person see better.  However, once the impaired vision begins to interfere with usual activities, cataract surgery may then be required.

During cataract surgery, the surgeon will remove the lens of the patient’s eye and replace it with an artificial lens.  The majority of people who undergo cataract surgery will experience greatly improved vision.  It is one of the most common medical procedures performed in the United States, with more than 2 million cataract surgeries performed every year.

However, as with every medical procedure, there are risks associated with cataract surgery.  Fortunately, the chances of a patient experiencing complications after the procedure are very low.  Examples of cataract surgery risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Inflammation inside the eye
• Glaucoma
• Hemorrhage
• Loss of vision
• Retention of a portion of the cataract inside the eye
• Retinal detachment
• Secondary cataract
• Swelling

In order to repair these complications, further treatment or surgery may be necessary.  Patients with another eye disease or a serious medical condition that affects any part of the body are at greater risk of complications.  There are instances where cataract surgery does not improve the patient’s vision due to underlying damage to the eye from other conditions.

There are instances where a doctor will undertake a cataract surgery for which they are not fully trained or are not adequately prepared, resulting in medical malpractice.  If you or a loved one has experienced deterioration of vision after cataract surgery, it may be important to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to protect your legal rights and ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.