How Can Medical Malpractice Lead to Blindness?

 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Catastrophic Injury

If a patient suffers avoidable harm when a healthcare professional fails to avoid a standard level of care, through negligence or otherwise, it is considered medical malpractice. Medical malpractice can affect every part of a person’s body, leaving them with serious injuries that could even be permanent. If the doctor’s mistake affects your eyes, it can be devastating and might even lead to life-long blindness. This article will explain various ways that medical malpractice could lead to vision loss or blindness. If this has happened to you, speak with a compassionate Broward County, FL medical malpractice lawyer to understand what rights and recourse you have.

Medical Malpractice and Blindness

There are several ways medical malpractice can lead to vision loss and blindness. Some include:

• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnose: If a doctor does not diagnose an eye condition and, therefore, does not treat it promptly, this could lead to vision loss.
• Improper treatment or medication: If a doctor prescribes the wrong medication or fails to give proper instructions for how to use medication, it might not only fail to treat the patient’s condition but could make it severely worse and possibly result in new symptoms. The result could be vision loss or permanent blindness.
• Mismanagement of infection: Serious eye complications can be caused by negligence and identifying and treating infections, poor postoperative care, and improper sterilization practices. Eye tissue and optic nerves are very sensitive and can be harmed irreparably by untreated infection, leading to blindness.
• Negligent practices during optical procedures: If tools or other equipment are used improperly, even during a routine eye exam, it could expose the eye to harmful surfaces or materials. leading to severe eye damage and vision loss.
• Surgical error: There are many common eye surgeries, including LASIK, cataract removal, and retina surgery. If errors are made during these surgeries, the effects can be detrimental. 

If a doctor has caused you to lose your vision, make sure to act quickly to seek compensation. The statute of limitations in Florida for medical malpractice cases is two years, so do not wait.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Fort Lauderdale, FL Medical Malpractice Lawyer

We go to our eye doctors assuming we can trust them to take proper care of us, treat issues promptly, and avoid unnecessary harm. If a doctor made a mistake while treating you and it has left you blind, a skilled Broward County, FL, personal injury attorney can review the case and advise you on how to get the compensation you deserve. Call The Law Offices of John D. Ameen, P.A. at 800-555-4011 to schedule a free consultation.