$500,000 Jury Verdict for Injury to Patient Whose Eyesight Was Harmed by Negligent Cataract Surgery

Deborah DeFranko was diagnosed by ophthalmologist Dr. Taylor Poole as having cataracts. Dr. Poole performed cataract surgery on DeFranko’s eyes over the course of one month.

During the cataract procedures, Dr. Poole placed Toric lenses in both eyes.

A Toric lense is a contact lense that is shaped in a way to conform to the shape of the patient’s eyes. In a cataract surgery, Toric lenses are implanted to replace the clouded lenses of the patient’s lens. Sometimes a Toric lens may correct astigmatism during cataract surgery.

After the cataract surgeries, DeFranko suffered from blurred vision, chronic dry eyes, headaches and ocular pain.

Dr. Poole performed a laser procedure to try to address the blurred vision; however, this was unsuccessful.

More than a year after the cataract surgeries, it was discovered that Dr. Pool had implanted the Toric lenses approximately 90 degrees off the intended axis in DeFranko’s right eye.

DeFranko later underwent LASIK surgery to improve her vision. This was only partially successful and she now needs reading glasses. She also continues to suffer from her previous symptoms related to the original surgeries.

DeFranko and her husband sued Dr. Poole and his medical practice alleging that Dr. Poole implanted the Toric lenses improperly in DeFranko’s right eye and chose not to timely recognize his error.

In this case, Dr. Poole’s efforts were found to be negligent and the jury returned the verdict of $500,000, which included $50,000 to DeFranko’s husband for loss of consortium.

The attorney representing the DeFranko family was Theodore S. Forman.

DeFranko v. Poole, No. 2016-016511-CA-01 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Miami-Dade County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling ophthalmology negligence lawsuits, physician negligence lawsuits, surgery negligence cases and hospital negligence lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Hillside, Hinsdale, Long Grove, Elmhurst, Evergreen Park, Richton Park, Chicago (Lincoln Bend, Lakewood Balmoral, West Loop, Wildwood, University of Chicago, UIC, South Shore, Ravenswood Manor, Pulaski Park, Printer’s Row, Portage Park, Oz Park, Old Town, Grand Boulevard, Englewood, Gold Coast, Garfield Ridge, Chinatown), Morton Grove, Mundelein, LaGrange Park, Hanover Park, Harwood Heights, Hoffman Estates, Burr Ridge, Burnham, Burbank, Brookfield, Des Plaines, Elgin, Sauk Village, River Grove and Westchester, Ill.