On September 10, 2025, a Missouri medical malpractice jury returned its verdict in favor of a cataract surgeon who was sued for alleged medical malpractice that occurred during cataract surgery when the patient unexpectedly moved his head during an injection into his eye, causing perforation of the eye globe and resulting in retinal detachment.
The 69-year-old man had cataract surgery on December 31, 2022. Because the man showed extreme photophobia during an earlier examination, the ophthalmologist performing the cataract surgery decided to use an additional anesthetic, known as retrobulbar block, to prevent eye movement during the surgery, in addition to IV sedation. Retrobulbar block involves injecting lidocaine directly below the eyeball after the patient is sedated to prevent muscle movement. It is a “blind injection” in that the surgeon cannot see the needle.
At the moment the ophthalmologist inserted the needle into the man’s eye, the man’s head jerked, causing the needle to perforate the eye globe and resulting in retinal detachment, which the ophthalmologist did not immediately identify and proceeded with the lidocaine injection. As the ophthalmologist was about to start the cataract surgery, he noticed blood at the front of the man’s eye, which he determined to be retinal detachment.
The man was referred to a retinal specialist who performed surgical procedures to repair the retina. The man contended that he suffered permanent blurry vision and light sensitivity due to the ophthalmologist’s alleged negligence.
The plaintiff’s expert testified by deposition that the ophthalmologist breached the standard of care by not anticipating the man’s head movement, and that perforating the eyeball during a retrobulbar block was negligent. The expert also questioned the use of a retrobulbar block for cataract surgery.
The man’s medical malpractice attorney argued that there were no reported cases in the literature of a globe perforation during retrobulbar block that was caused by a patient moving their head. The defense argued that globe perforation during a retrobulbar block is a known and accepted risk of the procedure and that head movement increases that risk, and that the ophthalmologist had provided care in compliance with the standard of care.
The Missouri medical malpractice jury returned its defense verdict after only 25 minutes of deliberations.
The defense attorney stated after the verdict, “While the ultimate surgical outcome was not as planned, the physician was not negligent and we were pleased that the jury was attentive and listened to the evidence. It’s not easy for physicians who dedicated their lives to helping people to be put through this adversarial process.”
If you or a family member suffered serious injury or other harm that may be due to ophthalmologist malpractice during cataract surgery in Missouri or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Missouri medical malpractice attorney or a medical malpractice attorney in your state who may investigate your cataract surgery malpractice claim for you and represent you or your family member in a cataract medical malpractice case against an ophthalmologist, if appropriate.
Visit our website or call us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959 to find cataract surgery malpractice lawyers in your state who may assist you.
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