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What's New > Woman Left Blind in One Eye After Ophthalmologist Fails to Diagnose and Treat Herpes; Case Settled for $925,000

A 51-year-old woman experienced blurred vision and was referred by her internist to an ophthalmologist the next day. The ophthalmologist misdiagnosed her condition as optic neuritis. Within two weeks, because of an untreated Herpes Simplex virus, she could not see at all out of her left eye and was experiencing a partial loss of vision to her right eye. She again called the ophthalmologist who told her the optic neuritis caused vision loss and it got worse before it got better. He did not ask her to come in for an evaluation. She told him that her left eye was swollen and she felt a pressure-like sensation in her left eye. She also complained of blinding headache.

Over the next several weeks her vision continued to deteriorate. She reported to the ophthalmologist that the vision in her right eye was also deteriorating and she was seeing what she described as a blizzard in her eye. She also began to experience extreme sensitivity to bright light.

The same day, he opened his office especially for her, examined her eyes and then referred her to a retinal specialist who hospitalized her immediately for a raging Herpes Virus to her eyes.

She received and antiviral medication through an IV. A week later, she was transferred to a medical center where she continued treatment. She continues to experience blindness in the left eye and faces the possibility of surgery, as well as diminished sight in the right eye. Mr. Zimmerman settled her case for $925,000.

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