Five liability claims involving the cornea and how they could have been prevented.

Abstract

Five recent professional liability claims involving the cornea are reviewed, arising from five unusual conditions: fungal infection following corneal abrasion with a tree branch; herpes simplex-induced neurotrophic keratitis resulting from contact lens wear; corneal necrotization caused by lime particulate matter splashed into the eye; siderosis-related retinal detachment secondary to a penetrating iron foreign body; and fluctuating acuity, halos, and flare resulting from radial keratotomy. Emphasis is on how these claims might have been avoided.