Miami Retinal Detachment Attorneys
Retinal detachment refers to a condition where the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball (the retina) is loosened from its support structure (the underlying retinal pigment epithelium). It can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated.
Approximately one out of every 10,000 people suffer from retinal detachment at some point in their lifetime. It is usually the result of a serious eye injury or disease, meaning you can’t really take steps to prevent retinal detachment and could be affected by this condition at any time.
If left undiagnosed or untreated, a detached retina or retinal tear can cause blindness and may even lead to the removal of the affected eye. However, it doesn’t always need to have such dire effects. Getting a prompt retinal detachment diagnosis and retinal detachment treatment helps to lower risk factors and prevent total eye loss. Properly handled, retinal detachment can be fixed.
If you or someone you know has suffered from a detached retina, but did not receive the proper treatment, your doctor can be held responsible through a medical malpractice lawsuit. For a free consultation at Kaire & Heffernan, LLC call 305-372-0123 or call toll-free at 866-769-0123. You can also contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Attorney Mark Kaire has direct experience handling this complex and relatively rare litigation. A personal injury attorney for many years, he is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and is fast becoming one of Miami’s most prominent medical malpractice lawyers.
Retinal Detachment Causes
Retinal detachments most often occur when there is some trauma, such as an auto accident, slip and fall, physical assault, or work-related incident resulting in a blow to the head or neck.
A retinal detachment can be one of three types:
Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment – The most common type of retinal detachment. This happens when you have a small tear or break in your retina, causing the gel-like fluid from the center of the eye to get behind your retina. In rare cases, it can be caused by posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), which is a natural part of aging, or lattice degeneration, which is a thinning of the retina that happens over time.
Tractional Retinal Detachment – When scar tissue on the eye’s surface causes the retina to pull away from the back of the eye and damage the blood vessels. This type of retinal detachment is often caused by diabetic retinopathy.
Exudative Detachment – Fluid builds up behind the retina without any tear, causing a separation between it and the rest of the eye. This can happen from eye inflammation, glaucoma, or after cataract surgery.
Liability for Injury Involving Retinal Detachment
When a doctor notices symptoms of retinal detachment, they must send the patient to an ophthalmologist immediately. According to the National Eye Institute, retinal detachment symptoms include blurred vision, dark spots floating across your vision, flashes of light, and dark shadows in the middle or sides of your vision. Your doctor might check for retinal tears to diagnose retinal detachment, but waiting too long can destroy the patient’s chances of recovery.
Eye surgery is usually required to treat retinal detachment. However, even getting retinal detachment surgery in a timely manner does not always succeed, which is why a doctor must act quickly at the first signs of retinal detachment.
Any accident resulting in a retinal detachment could be grounds for a lawsuit against the responsible party. In Florida, an individual who negligently injures another person or a doctor that fails to treat or mistreats a patient can be held liable for all injuries they cause, including retinal detachment.
It is imperative that you have an experienced attorney who is familiar with Florida laws regarding personal injury and medical negligence to ensure that your rights are protected if you experience retinal detachment.
Contact Kaire & Heffernan, LLC Today
Reach out to our law firm immediately if you or a loved one have been injured because of someone else’s negligent act. The Kaire & Heffernan team is here to provide professional legal services that can make a difference in your life. Our experienced lawyers have the dedication and skill to help you build a strong case and present it in the best manner to the court in order to get you fair compensation. We will fight for you!
Call us at 866-769-0123 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our expert lawyers.