TABLE 2.
CLAIMS WITH A DOCUMENTATION OF INTRAOPERATIVE MANIPULATION BY THE CATARACT SURGEON DURING MANAGEMENT OF POSTERIOR DISLOCATION OF LENS FRAGMENTS
| CASE | PREOP VA | POSTOP VA | INTRAOPERATIVE MANIPULATIONS | TIME TO REFERRAL | ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS | DISPOSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20/60 | LP | Spatula; irrigation; probe posteriorly | Same day | RD × 2; hypotony; corneal decompensation | Plaintiff verdict; $125,000 |
| 2 | 20/70 | NLP | MVR blade to impale the fragment that landed on optic nerve | 9 days | RD × 2 | Settled; $135,000 |
| 3 | 20/40 | HM | Lens loop | 7 days | RD × 2 with the initial RD during PPV by a retina specialist |
Defense verdict |
| 4 | 20/80 | HM | Lens loop; irrigation | 4 days | RD × 2; glaucoma | Settled; $150,000 |
| 5 | 20/50 | NLP | Spatula | 1 day | RD × 2 with the initial RD occurring 1 month after PPV, PPL |
Settled; $25,000 |
| 6 | 20/70 | CF | Irrigation | 7 days | RD × 3 | Plaintiff dismissed |
| 7 | CF | 20/200 | PPV by the cataract surgeon | 9 days | RD; vitreous hemorrhage | Statute of limitation expired; dismissed |
CF, counting fingers; HM, hand motions; LP, light perception; MVR, microvitreoretinal; NLP, no light perception; PPL, pars plana lensectomy; PPV, pars plana vitrectomy; RD, retinal detachment; VA, visual acuity.