Eye Doctor Malpractice

Failure to Diagnose Temporal Ateritis

Temporal arteritis (TA), also known as giant cell arteritis (GCA), is a common form of systemic vasculopathy (damage to a blood vessel by a disease process affecting the opening or walls of the vessel) in patients older than 50 years.

The most devastating complication of temporal arteritis is irreversible vision loss. Currently, temporal arteritis is considered one of the most important ophthalmic emergencies or eye emergencies, as bilateral blindness can occur in up to one third of patients.

For emergency physicians, ophthalmologists, and optometrists, early recognition and prompt treatment are critical to prevent permanent ischemic damage to the retina and optic nerve.
A thorough physical and neurological examination should be performed to exclude other possible causes of headache and visual disturbances.

Medical guidelines suggest that the patient's head and face should be examined for inflamed and thickened arteries, tenderness to palpation, tender scalp nodules, or necrotic areas of the scalp. Inflamed vessels may be tender and warm.

Following these guidelines, a complete eye examination should be performed, including visual acuity, visual field check, and funduscopic as well as a slit lamp examinations.

Guidelines for eye doctors also recommend that special attention should be paid to the retinal vessels.

Ophthalmology Malpractice
Optometry Malpractice
Failure to Diagnose Temporal Ateritis

If you have been the victim of malpractice because of an eye doctor's failure to diagnose temporal ateritis, and suffered blindness or permanent vision loss, then contact our law firm for an immediate, confidential, consultation.