$2 Million Verdict: Loss of Vision in One Eye
Lawsuit claims failure to diagnose retinal vein occlusion results in permanent loss of vision
2025 Medical Malpractice Trial Report
By Andrew H. Miller, Attorney for the Plaintiff
Middlesex Superior Court, Massachusetts
Case summary
As of September 2016, Sheila Lovell received routine eye examinations due to her family history of glaucoma. Her vision in both eyes was intact, and was noted as 20/20 in her right eye and 20/40 in her left eye.
On May 2, 2017, Ms. Lovell went to Atrius Health in Somerville with new blurry vision in her left eye. The defendant, an optometrist, examined Ms. Lovell and noted that her left eye vision was now 20/60. Notably, the defendant did not dilate Ms. Lovell’s left eye to get a fuller view of her retina. Instead, the defendant did an undilated retinal exam and with refraction was able to correct the left eye vision from 20/60 to 20/25. The defendant believed the problem was a harmless astigmatism and prescribed glasses.
Just over three months later, Ms. Lovell went to the emergency room with severe left eye pain and loss of vision in the left eye. The next day she was sent to Mass Eye and Ear, where she was diagnosed with neovascular glaucoma of the left eye caused by a retinal vein occlusion. By that time, she had completely lost the vision in her left eye, and never regained it.
The plaintiff presented evidence at trial from an ophthalmology expert who testified that Ms. Lovell’s blurry vision in May was not explained by the defendant’s exam findings, and that the standard of care required the defendant to dilate Ms. Lovell’s pupil to fully examine her retina at that time. The expert testified that had the defendant done a full, dilated exam, she would have diagnosed a retinal vein occlusion while it was still treatable, Ms. Lovell would not have developed neovascular glaucoma, and she would have maintained vision in her left eye.
After a 5-day trial, the jury deliberated for 5 hours and returned a verdict of $1,500,000 against the defendant. With interest, the judgment totaled just over $2,000,000.
Lubin & Meyer medical malpractice attorneys Andrew C. Meyer, Jr. and Andrew H. Miller represented the plaintiffs in this case.
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