Warning for laser eye surgery patients
Those considering undergoing laser eye surgery may risk losing their sight, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has warned.
With a growing popularity in the surgery, APIL has raised concerns regarding the effects of laser eye surgery.
According to APIL the procedure is unregulated and allows patients to be treated by surgeons without the appropriate training, skills or experience.
Chief executive, Denise Kitchener of APIL has advised those considering the surgery to “investigate the practitioner’s skills.”
She said: "It is imperative to ask the right questions before undergoing laser eye surgery.
At the moment it is the patient's responsibility to investigate the practitioner's skills and training, and the only legal demand for doctors is that they are registered with the General Medical Council.
The fact the industry is not regulated in any way is shocking, as someone who is inexperienced and has no specific training in this area can perform the surgery. This means there is a huge disparity in the quality of treatment available."
She said that a number of Brits suffer various personal injuries as a “result of patients not receiving appropriate counselling, or not being able to see a qualified ophthalmologist before and after the operation.”
Updated on 2/17/2009