Ophthalmology Claims Solicitors

Ophthalmology negligence occurs when an eye care professional fails to meet the required standard of care, causing avoidable harm to your vision. It includes surgical errors, misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and failure to refer to specialist services.

Common examples include cataract surgery errors leading to vision loss, failure to diagnose glaucoma resulting in irreversible damage, delayed treatment of retinal detachment, and laser eye surgery complications from inadequate screening or technique. Both NHS and private ophthalmology treatment can give rise to claims.

Yes. LASIK, LASEK, and other refractive surgery claims are well-established. Negligence can include inadequate pre-operative screening, performing surgery on unsuitable candidates, errors in surgical technique, and failing to obtain proper informed consent about risks and alternatives.

Complications such as overcorrection, undercorrection, corneal scarring, dry eye syndrome, and visual disturbances including halos and glare can form the basis of claims where the standard of care fell below that expected. We advise on whether your surgery met the required standard.

Yes. Delayed or failed diagnosis of conditions including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and diabetic retinopathy can constitute negligence where earlier diagnosis would have prevented or reduced vision loss.

These cases require expert evidence establishing that a competent clinician would have diagnosed the condition earlier, and that earlier treatment would have produced a better outcome. Causation can be complex but claims succeed where clear evidence shows a missed diagnosis caused avoidable deterioration.

Cataract surgery errors can include wrong lens power selection, negligent management of intraoperative complications, post-operative infections through inadequate follow-up, and failure to identify and treat complications promptly. Where these amount to a departure from the required standard and cause harm, a claim may be possible.

Many complications are recognised risks and not themselves negligent. Expert review by an independent ophthalmic surgeon is essential to determine whether the treatment met the required standard and whether any departure caused your injury.

Not every poor outcome constitutes negligence. The test is whether a responsible body of ophthalmic practitioners would have acted differently in the same circumstances. Known complications, where properly explained and consented, are generally not negligence.

Negligence typically involves a clear departure from accepted practice: operating when contraindicated, misreading test results, failing to refer obvious symptoms, or making preventable surgical errors. We obtain independent expert review to assess whether your treatment fell below the required standard.

Three years from the date of negligence, or from the date you became aware that your injury was caused by negligent treatment (your date of knowledge). For children, the three-year period begins on their 18th birthday.

Acting promptly helps. Medical records are easier to obtain, witnesses’ recollections are clearer, and expert evidence is more readily available. We advise on limitation issues at the outset and take immediate steps to protect your position.

Yes. We pursue ophthalmology negligence claims on a no-win, no-fee basis under conditional fee agreements. You pay nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. If successful, our fees are recovered from the other side.

Before accepting a case we assess prospects carefully, and we only pursue claims with reasonable prospects of success. We arrange insurance to cover you if the case doesn’t succeed, so you won’t be left out of pocket.