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A
laser eye surgery doctor working in Dubai has been acquitted of malpractice after he was accused of causing permanent vision loss in a female patient who underwent two
laser eye surgery procedures.
Presiding judge Hamdi Abul Khair also dismissed two civil cases brought by the compalainant and the doctor, reports the Khaleej Times.
The 43-year-old woman said she consulted Kahir after developing a vision problem in her right eye. The qualified eye specialist performed laser surgery in her left eye to balance her vision - a method that is deemed unconventional.
Kahir claimed the decision to operate on both eyes was made so that the patient would be able to regain close distance visual acuity in her left eye and the opposite in her right, the news provider stated.
However, the doctor was accused of misdiagnosing the patients problem and causing permanent vision loss of 35 per cent in her left eye.
The case, which has been rumbling on for more than two years, highlights the dangers of
corrective laser surgery - regardless of whether a surgeon is at fault or not. It also shows the need for alternatives to
corrective laser surgery - such as Ortho K overnight contact lenses.
Two weeks after the surgeries were conducted, the patient in question's eyesight had actually deteriorated, but on returning to the eye clinic, she was told that her vision would get better.
As a result of the case, in which the Court of Misdemeanours cleared the 47-year-old doctor of causing permanent vision loss, Kahir's licence to perform corrective
laser eye surgery had been suspended.
Four further complaints against him are pending and his licence will not be reinstated until they are dealt with.
In China, some eye specialists are carrying out as many as 180
corrective laser surgery procedures a day - bringing into question the quality of care they are providing their patients with, reports the Global Times.
Written by Julia Paris
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