A male patient suffered a serious eye injury when he was struck in the eye by a briar while walking in the woods, experiencing significant pain and a “gush” of fluid from the eye. He promptly sought care from a local optometrist, who recommended that he see an ophthalmologist for further evaluation. Despite the patient’s worsening vision and increasing pain, the ophthalmologist continued to treat the injury with medicated eye drops over several days.
Eventually, the patient was referred to a large hospital for advanced care, but by that time, the damage had progressed significantly. The patient underwent multiple procedures in an effort to save his eye, including direct injections, but ultimately the eye could not be salvaged and had to be removed. He was later fitted with a prosthetic eye and had to adapt to his new limitations. Our experts determined that the ophthalmologist should have immediately referred the patient to the hospital for a higher level of care, instead of attempting to treat the injury at his office. Expert testimony further indicated that, with prompt and appropriate care, the patient would likely have retained his eye. Our firm successfully secured a substantial settlement for the patient early in the litigation process.
Type of Medical Malpractice: Delayed Referral and Mismanagement of Eye Injury
Standard of Care Issues:
- Timely referral to a specialized facility for critical eye injuries
- Recognition of worsening symptoms and the need for higher-level care
- Avoiding prolonged office-based treatment for severe ocular trauma