Specsavers blunder left man blind in one eye – a simple phone call could have saved him

A man went blind in one eye after Specsavers failed to refer him for emergency surgery which could have saved his sight, according to legal reports.

He has now received a six-figure payout for the blunder, after the Hight Street chain admitted it was at fault. 

Before disaster struck, the man in his late 50s, referred to only as David, only needed to wear glasses for reading and watching TV.

But in late March 2019, when he noticed dots and flashes of light across his vision and booked an urgent appointment at Specsavers on Saturday 28 March 2019.

The optometrist examined him and diagnosed retinal detachment, when the layer of light sensitive cells at the back of the eye come loose.

David was told he needed emergency surgery — but was made to wait until Monday, by which point the damage to his eye was permanent and he was left blind.  

The optometrist has attempted to reach the ophthalmology department at Kidderminster Hospital by telephone to request same-day surgery, it transpired.

When this was unsuccessful, they decided to send the urgent referral via fax — and David was told to wait at home for a call from the hospital.

However the ophthalmology department at Kidderminster Hospital did not offer emergency treatment on a weekend.

Unaware of the blunder, David waited as he had been told to do, but did not receive a call.

On the morning of Monday 1 April, David woke up blind in the right eye. After calls to NHS 111 and his GP, he was seen later that day by a surgeon at Kidderminster Hospital. 

But by this point the damage to his vision was permanent.

He then underwent surgery to reattach the retina, but he has never regained vision in the right eye. 

Instead he is left only being able to see shadows and outlines of shapes.

David instructed Leigh Day solicitor Rebecca Ridgeon and, following investigation of his claim, Specsavers admitted that David should have been advised to attend the emergency department at Birmingham Eye Hospital on 28 March 2019. 

If he had undergone urgent surgery to reattach his retina that day, before the macula detached, he  may have retained normal vision in both eyes.

But due to his vision loss, David has now had to adjust to day-to-day life relying on just one eye.

He still struggles  to drive for long periods, or in the dark which has forced him to change his job. 

David also struggles with any task requiring 3D vision and depth perception — including repairing watches, which used to be a hobby of his — and daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning.

His eye injury has also caused him to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression.

His six-figure settlement includes compensation for his injuries, as well as for additional care he has required from his wife and his loss of earnings due to the change in employment. 

‘Whilst no amount of compensation will ever make up for the fact that I am now blind in my right eye, I am really pleased with the result of my claim against Specsavers,’ David said. 

Solicitor Rebecca Ridgeon said: ‘The care provided to David — in referring him for urgent surgery at a hospital department which would not open for another 48 hours — was clearly substandard.

‘I am pleased that Specsavers eventually accepted that this delay had a significant impact on David’s vision, making him effectively blind in one eye.’

A Specsavers spokesperson said: ‘We are sorry to hear about the problems David is still experiencing with his eyesight. 

‘Since this incident the Kidderminster store directors have reviewed their procedures. 

‘They have issued new guidance for colleagues about hospital referrals to try and make sure that something like this does not happen again. 

‘We wish David all the best for the future.’