Personal Injury Solicitors

The Medicines Health Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has announced an investigation into a new artificial lens implanted into patients, which may have caused eye patients to lose their sight significantly or develop eyesight defects.

The Guardian reports that the Mplus X lens was used on thousands of patients, after an intensive marketing campaign involving interest free credit inducements for choosing the lens.

Some eye surgeons say, however, that patients fitted with the Mplus X lens sometimes developed poor eyesight, including not being able to see further than arm’s length following eye surgery to fit the lens.

The lens replaces an eye’s own lens and is a corrective procedure to restore eyesight so that patients no longer have to wear glasses. The cost of fitting a replacement lens like Mplus X is in the region of £3,000.

German manufacturer Oculentis makes the Mplus X lens, which is supposed to offer improved performance on existing makes.

The lens was brought to market in the UK in 2014 – however, eye specialists at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London have expressed concern over the lens imlant, following four out of six cases at the hospital involving patients who had lost a significant degree of their sight after being fitted with Mplus X lenses.

A surgeon who worked for Optical Express in London for four years has also said that he raised concerns about Mplus X lenses with the company.

Ophthalmic surgeon George Settas also brought his concerns to the attention of the MRHA and said:

“I told them [Optical Express] on more than one occasion that I had concerns regarding the performance of the Mplus X lens, as I felt that there were a lot more patients experiencing quality of vision problems with this lens than other lenses.

“Explanting – i.e removing – such a lens is not an easy procedure at all.

“Concerned by what I felt was an increase in the number of explants with the Mplus X lens, I raised the issue within Optical Express.

“In the end, I had to file a report with the appropriate regulatory authority.”

It was Mr Settas who noticed that some patients fitted with Mplus X lenses were later unable to see further than arm’s length, which he brought to the attention of Optical Express. The company has confirmed that Mr Settas spoke to them of his concerns about Mplus X lenses.

Mr Settas added:

“The patients were complaining that they couldn’t see clearly, usually at distance.

“Most were saying that they could read – but that they could not see properly beyond their arm’s length, which was a bit surprising.

“You would not expect people to have a problem at that distance.”

Optical Express disputes that Mr Settas raised concerns as early as September – and the firm’s clinical services director, Stephen Hannan, says that no concerns were raised until October.

Mr Settas says that supplies of Mplus X lenses were only removed from Optical express clinics in November.

However, Mr Hannan said that removal of some supplies of the lenses was not linked to any concerns – but there was no advantage in stocking the new version of Mplus X lenses rather than the older model “as it had similar outcomes”.

“The Mplus X lens has excellent ocular outcomes for patients,” said Mr Hannan.

“Our experience and detailed assessment of these ocular outcomes confirms this to be the case.”

It is reported, however, that one group of patients who underwent laser eye surgery may be considering a class action – Optical Express has already been ordered to pay one woman £500,000 after her eyes were so badly damaged by undergoing laser eye surgery that she now has to wear sunglasses in daytime.

Duncan Lewis Clinical Negligence Solicitors – Laser Eye Surgery Claims

Duncan Lewis clinical negligence solicitors can advise eye patients who have undergone damaging laser eye surgery on how to make a no win no fee claim for eye surgery compensation.

Clinical negligence claims must be made within three years from the date of injury to the eyes – or diagnosis of eye injury following laser eye surgery.

Duncan Lewis clinical negligence solicitors are also able to advise groups of laser eye surgery patients on how to make a no win no fee class action claim for eye surgery compensation.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Laser Eye Surgery Claims, call Duncan Lewis clinical negligence solicitors on 020 7923 4020.