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You are in: Home Page | Personal Injury | Medical Negligence Claims | Surgical Errors | Laser Eye Surgery

Laser Eye Surgery

Introduction to Laser Eye Surgery
  What is Vision Correction Surgery?
Types of Laser Eye Surgery
  Different Methods used in Laser Eye Surgery
What happens when Laser Eye Surgery goes wrong?
  Injuries caused by Laser Eye Surgery
Making a Laser Eye Surgery Compensation Claim
  Starting a claim for Laser Eye Surgery Compensation

Introduction to Laser Eye Surgery

What is Vision Correction Surgery?

Over the years laser eye surgery has become available and is becoming more popular particularly with professions where the wearing of spectacles can be difficult. It is used to correct long and short sighted vision. It works by using a laser which permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering over the coloured iris and the lens which sits just behind the pupil.

When the surgery is undertaken well there are excellent results. The procedure is relatively simple and takes about an hour. The procedure is usually undertaken privately and the cost therefore varies.

Problems can occur, however and if you have been injured or your sight has been damaged by Laser Eye Surgery, you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim.  To discuss your individual case in more detail, call us on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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Types of Laser Eye Surgery

Different Methods used in Laser Eye Surgery

There are 3 main methods of Laser Eye Surgery (LES), Radial Keratotomy, Photorefractive Keratectomy and Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis.

Radial Keratotomy (RK) is where a diamond blade is used to make a micro-incision in the cornea to treat mild levels of nearsightedness and astigmatism.

Laser corrective surgery began with Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) which uses an excimer laser to treat mild to moderate levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

More recently, Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis or (LASIK) has been developed which is a quicker technique in which an automated precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade is used to create a corneal flap and the laser is then used to ablate the cornea.

If you have been injured or your eyesight has been harmed as a result of Laser Eye Surgery, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation.  For more information, contact us on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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What happens when Laser Eye Surgery goes wrong?

Injuries caused by Laser Eye Surgery

When Laser Eye Surgery is carried out by experienced and qualified surgeons the results can be highly beneficial but there are risks and complications can occur. The safety and effectiveness of LES is not fully determined and varies between patients. The propensity for adverse outcomes may by higher in some patients who have pre existing risk factors which doctors should screen for such as large pupils, thin corneas, dry eyes and blepharitis.

According to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, problems arise in less than 5% of cases. However when things go wrong, they can have dramatic consequences with the potential to lead to blindness. In one such case the operator had not checked the settings on the machine and the burst was of too high an intensity which led to permanent blindness in that eye. In that case the claimant recovered £25,000.

Patients should be fully advised regarding the risks of any proposed surgery. Adverse outcomes may include minor pain and sensitivity and blurred vision but could be more serious and include double vision, corneal scarring, ectasia (pathological dilation of the cornea) and even on occasions complete loss of vision.

If you have been injured or suffered loss of vision due to Laser Eye Surgery, you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim.  To discuss how Thompsons Solicitors may be able to help you, call us on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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Making a Laser Eye Surgery Compensation Claim

Starting a claim for Laser Eye Surgery Compensation

Negligence cases may involve allegations of surgical error, incompetent screening, failure to identify risk factors, and failure to advise of risks.

If you or anyone you know has suffered from any form of clinical negligence, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim.  For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all matters relating to clinical negligence and will be able to advise you as to whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist clinical negligence lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.

Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.

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