020 7650 1200

Opticians Eye Exam

Man went blind in one eye after Specsavers faxed a referral for emergency eye surgery to the wrong hospital

A man from Kidderminster has received a six-figure settlement for a life-altering eye injury he suffered after Specsavers admitted they were negligent in failing to properly refer him for emergency surgery.

Posted on 22 October 2024

The man, who we have called David, was in his late 50s, had reasonable eyesight and only wore his varifocal glasses for activities such as reading and watching TV. 

In late March 2019, David suddenly noticed dots and flashes of light across his vision in his right eye. He attended his local branch of Specsavers in Kidderminster for an urgent appointment on Saturday 30 March 2019, where he was seen by an optometrist (an eye health care specialist).  

The optometrist examined David and correctly diagnosed him with retinal detachment – a serious sight-threatening condition, where the retina pulls away from the back of the eye and which requires emergency treatment – and advised that he would be referred to the local hospital for surgery.  

After attempting, without success, to reach the ophthalmology department at Kidderminster Hospital by telephone, the optometrist then chose to send a referral letter to them by fax, requesting same-day treatment.  

The ophthalmology department at Kidderminster Hospital did not offer emergency treatment on a weekend and the department was closed until Monday. David waited all weekend to receive a call from the hospital, as he had been told to do, but did not receive one. On the morning of Monday 1 April, David woke up blind in the right eye. After calls to NHS 111 and his GP, he was seen later that day by an ophthalmologist at Kidderminster Hospital.  

At that stage, David’s macula (part of the retina which is important for sight) was found to have become detached and he was told that, as a result, surgery was no longer urgent as the damage was permanent. David then underwent surgery to reattach the retina, but he has never regained useful vision in the right eye. His vision in that eye is now limited to shadows and outlines of shapes.  

David instructed Leigh Day solicitor Rebecca Ridgeon and, following investigation of his claim, Specsavers admitted that David should have been advised to attend the emergency department at Birmingham Eye Hospital on 30 March 2019. He would then have undergone urgent surgery to reattach his retina, before the macula detached and David lost all useful vision in that eye. In that scenario, David would have retained normal vision in both eyes.  

As it is, David has had to adjust to day-to-day life relying on just one eye. He struggles to drive for long periods and to drive in the dark and ultimately had to change his job due to these difficulties. David struggles with any task requiring 3D vision and depth perception – including repairing watches, which used to be a hobby of his – and daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning. David has also suffered from symptoms of anxiety and depression as a result of his eye injury.

David’s settlement includes compensation for his injuries, as well as for additional care he has required from his wife and his loss of earnings due to the change in employment. 

David said: 

“Whilst no amount of compensation will ever make up for the fact that I am now blind in my right eye, I am really pleased with the result of my claim against Specsavers and am glad that I contacted Leigh Day and asked them to look into what happened to me. I have the utmost respect for Leigh Day and for the professionalism shown by Rebecca in dealing with my case.” 

Rebecca Ridgeon said: 

“The care provided to David on 30 March 2019 – in referring him for urgent surgery at a hospital department which would not open for another 48 hours – was clearly substandard and I am pleased that Specsavers eventually accepted that this delay had a significant impact on David’s vision, making him effectively blind in one eye. It was a pleasure to represent David and to obtain a settlement which recognises the enormous impact that the negligence had on his quality of life.” 

Profile
Rebecca Ridgeon (1)
Birth injury Brain injury Cerebral palsy Spinal injury

Rebecca Ridgeon

Rebecca Ridgeon is an associate solicitor in the medical negligence department.

Landing Page
CP Child In Pool

Medical negligence

If you or a loved one have suffered medical negligence our lawyers are here to offer you sensitive support and expert experience gained after representing claimants in this area for more than 35 years. 

News Article
Hospital Maternity Sign
Medical negligence Settlement

Six-figure settlement reached for woman who suffered a ruptured bowel following C-section

A woman, who we have called Nina, has received £175,000 in compensation in a legal claim against Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust after they failed to diagnose and treat her bowel obstruction.