Americans do not visit ophthalmologists, also known as eye doctors, that often, do they? More often than not, people visit ophthalmologists when they have disease or when there are symptoms indicating a potential problem with the eyes.

Unfortunately, medical and surgical errors can occur when being diagnosed, treated, or operated on by an ophthalmologist. “Depending on the nature and cause of your injury caused by an eye doctor, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice lawsuit to recover damages,” says our Philadelphia ophthalmology malpractice attorney at The Weitz Firm, LLC.

Responsibilities of ophthalmologists in the U.S.

Ophthalmologists are specialists who treat patients suffering from eye and vision problems caused by diseases or medical complications. With the annual salary of about $330,000, ophthalmologists are expected by patients to provide high-quality care.

Becoming an ophthalmologist can be tricky, because it takes more than a decade of medical training, interning, examinations, residency programs, and board certification programs to be allowed to diagnose and treat conditions related to eye health. Not only do ophthalmologists diagnose various conditions and prescribe medications to treat vision problems, but also treat condition that require more investing testing, correction, or even surgery.

What duties do ophthalmologists have?

“Prior to diagnosing and treating patients, ophthalmologists have a duty to collect information about the patient’s medical condition, hear the patient’s complaints, review the patient’s medical history, and assess the patient’s lifestyle,” says our experienced ophthalmology malpractice attorney in Philadelphia. Some of the most common conditions treated by ophthalmologists in Pennsylvania include:

  • Conjunctivitis
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Blurred or diminished vision
  • Ptosis and
  • Diabetic retinopathy

To diagnose and treat these and hundreds of other medical conditions related to eye health, ophthalmologists perform the following tests:

  • Eye examination
  • Corneal topography
  • Fluorescein angiography
  • Fundus photography and
  • Biopsies

Types of ophthalmology malpractice to watch out for

Many things can go wrong when being treated or diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. These errors caused by ophthalmology malpractice can lead to serious injuries, life-long suffering, diminished earning capacity, and many other unpleasant consequences. Ophthalmology malpractice when your ophthalmologist:

We need our eyes to be healthy in order to live, work, and enjoy our lives to the fullest. Unfortunately, any deviation from the accepted standard of practice can lead to irreparable damage to your eyes, vision loss, or other eye-related problems that can make it difficult or even impossible to live or earn a living as you did prior to being a victim of ophthalmology malpractice.

A patient may never see again due to a preventable medical or surgical error, and he or she will always be reminded about this traffic experience for the rest of his or her life. With the help of a skilled medical malpractice lawyer by your side, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages and losses caused by ophthalmologist malpractice.

Let our lawyers at The Weitz Firm, LLC, evaluate your case and determine whether or not your eye doctor can be held liable for ophthalmology malpractice. Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation today. Call at 267-587-6240.

Click To Call