In addition to the claims and clinical issues addressed in the OMIC Digest's feature articles, OMIC has carefully reviewed closed claims against ophthalmologists in our Closed Claim Study. The claims range from failure to diagnose retinal detachment to laser skin resurfacing. A review of these claims helps ophthalmologists understand many of the clinical and non-clinical issues that arise in a case and impact the outcome.

More recent closed claim studies are published in the Ophthalmic Risk Management Digest.

• A Medical Board Investigation Handled Perfectly
  (Digest, Winter 2007)
• Risks and Benefits of Writing Off a Patient’s Bill
  (Digest, Spring 2007)
• Off-Label Use of ICG Dye During Vitrectomy for Floaters
  (Digest, Summer 2007)
• Fire in the Operating Room
  (Digest, Summer 2006)
• Traumatic Eye Injury and Patient Abandonment
  (Digest, Fall, 2006)
• Codefendant Nurse Anesthetist’s Insurance Carrier Builds a Case Against OMIC Insureds
  (Digest, Winter 2006)
• Inadequate Hand-offs Between Physicians Delays Treatment of Endophthalmitis
  (Digest, Spring 2006)
• Codefendant Ophthalmologist Testifies Against OMIC Insured at Trial
  (Digest, Winter 2005)
• Early Reporting and Investigation of Potential Claims Averts a Lawsuit
  (Digest, Spring 2005)
• Outgoing Answering Machines Message Wins Case for Ophthalmologists
  (Digest, Summer 2005)
• Orbit Compartment Syndrome Leads to Poor Outcome Following Blepharoplasty
  (Digest, Fall 2005)
• Negligent Telephone Care of Postoperative Patient
  (Digest, Winter 2004)
• Watch for Warning Signs of Mixed Diagnosis
  (Digest, Spring 2004)
• Globe Perforation and Vision Loss in High Myopic, Deaf Patient
  (Digest, Summer/Fall 2004)
• Trauma Cases: Risky to Treat, Difficult to Defend
  (Digest, Spring 2003)
• Disclosures of Risks, Complications, and Adverse Outcomes
  (Digest, Summer 2003)
• Patient Mix-Up in the Laser Suite
  (Digest, Fall, 2003)
• Jury Education Averts Potentially Large LASIK Verdict
  (Digest, Winter 2003)
• Subsequent Treaters' Criticism Spurs Unhappy Patient to Sue
  (Digest, Fall 2002)
• Allegation of Consumer Deception Following Flap Complication
  (Digest, Summer 2002)
• Failure to Diagnose Pseudomonas Infection
  (Digest, Spring 2002)
• Orbital Fracture Missed During Eye Exam
  (Digest, Winter 2002)
• Complicated Course of Chronic Iritis
  (Digest, Fall 2001)
• Delayed Referral for Progressive ROP
  (Digest, Summer 2001)
• Patient Slip and Fall Following Dilation
  (Digest, Spring 2001)
• Miscommunication During PRK Leads to Surgical Mix-up
  (Digest, Winter 2001)
• Lack of Informed Consent for Use of Research Drug
  (Digest, Fall 2000)
• Wrong Power IOL Inserted During Cataract Surgery
  (Digest, Summer 2000)
• Failure to Diagnose Retinal Detachment
  (Digest, Spring 2000)
• Unnecessary Surgery for Pterygia
  (Digest, Winter 2000)
• Failure to Obtain Informed Consent for Vitrectomy
  (Digest, Fall 1999)
• Failure to Diagnose Bilateral Acanthamoeba Keratitis
  (Digest, Summer 1999)
• Failure to Diagnose Giant Cell Arteritis
  (Digest, Spring 1999)
• Failure to Diagnose an Eye Infection
  (Digest, Winter 1999)
• Unnecessary Laser Surgery for Diabetic Macular Edema
  (Digest, Fall 1998)
• Negligent Lid Surgery on a Graves' Patient
  (Digest, Summer 1998)
• Negligent Administration of Retrobulbar Anesthesia
  (Digest, Spring 1998)
• Failure to Diagnose Temporal Arteritis
  (Digest, Winter 1998)
• Unfamiliar Procedures in Satellite Office Leads to Failure to Diagnose Retinal Detachment
  (Digest, Fall 1997)
• Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma
  (Digest, Spring 1997)
• Failure to Provide Urgent Eye Exam
  (Digest, Winter 1997)
• Delay in Consultation Referral of Post-RK Patient
  (Digest, Fall 1996)
• False Advertising and Misrepresentation Hamper Defense in Laser Facial Surgery Case
  (Digest, Summer 1996)
• Delayed Consultation Referral of Managed Care Patient with Endogenous Endophthalmitis
  (Digest, Spring 1996)
• Post-Retrobulbar Retinal Artery Occlusion and Informed Consent for Clinical Investigation of Intraocular Lenses
  (Digest, Winter 1996)
• Early Reporting of Claims Benefits All Insureds
  (Digest, Fall 1995)
• Failure to Coordinate Follow-up Care Results in Missed ROP Diagnosis
  (Digest, Summer 1995)
• Failure to Diagnose Toxic Optic Neuropathy
  (Digest, Winter 1995)
• Failure to Adequately Inform of Laser Risks
  (Digest, Fall 1994)
• Noncompliance Puts Patient and Physician at Risk in Glaucoma Cases
  (Digest, Summer 1994)
• Failure to Diagnose an Occipital Aneurysm
  (Digest, Spring 1994)
• Delayed Diagnosis of Endophthalmitis Following Cataract Surgery
  (Digest, Winter 1994)
• Charges That Inadvertent Orbital Biopsy Caused Permanent Ptosis
  (Digest, Fall 1993)
• Delay in Performance of Retinal Detachment Surgery and Associated Nonmedical Issues
  (Digest, Summer 1993)
• Failure to Prove Negligence in Treatment of Macular Degeneration
  (Digest, Spring 1993)
• Poor Results from Bilateral Upper Lid Blepharoplasty
  (Digest, Winter 1993)
• Failure to Diagnose a Brain Lesion in a Referred Patient
  (Digest, Fall 1992)
• Medication Error Underlines Importance of Informed Consent
  (Digest, Summer 1992)
• Charges of Abandonment by Noncompliant Patient
  (Digest, Spring 1992)
• Responsibilities of a Consulting Ophthalmologist
  (Digest, Fall 1991)
• Motion for Summary Judgment
  (Digest, Summer 1991)
• Reviewing Preoperative Test Results
  (Digest, Spring 1991)