The ability to change your eye colour with cosmetic eye surgery is relatively new, but quickly growing in popularity. There are a couple of different types of procedure available, both of which have a high risk of complications that can result in everything from disappointing cosmetic results and discomfort, to serious long-term damage to the eye, including the potential for blindness.
Keratopigmentation involves cutting a small hole in the surface of the eye and injecting mineral pigments on top of the iris, changing the apparent colour of the eye. This procedure is sometimes referred to as ‘corneal tattooing’ and is generally thought safer than the alternative option of cosmetic iris implants (which are banned in the UK).
However, corneal tattooing has been found to cause unwanted side-effects in more than 1 in 10 people who receive the treatment. Common complications of this type of cosmetic eye surgery include light sensitivity and reduced field of vision, while surgical errors can result in more severe issues, including partial or full blindness.
If you have been harmed as a result of negligent cosmetic eye surgery, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This can help pay for corrective treatment, cover other costs you have incurred, such as lost income for taking time off work, and go some way towards making amends for your pain and suffering.
Cosmetic surgery negligence claims can be complicated, with clinics vigorously disputing their liability for any negative side-effects of a procedure they carried out. It is therefore critical to have the support of a legal team with specific experience with cosmetic improvement claims, including keratopigmentation and eyelid surgery claims.
IBB Claims clinical negligence team have experience working across a wide range of cosmetic surgery negligence claims. This gives us the expertise you need to ensure all of the relevant facts are established and properly supported with the right evidence, so you have the best chance of a successful claim.
Your health and emotional wellbeing are our top priorities. We will provide sensitive, compassionate support throughout the whole claims process, combined with the clear, pragmatic advice necessary to help you secure the best available result.
Our clinical negligence lawyers offer a free initial consultation for all cosmetic surgery compensation claims. This gives you the chance to explain your situation, then allows us to provide an honest assessment of the strength of your claim.
We offer no-win no-fee corneal tattooing compensation claims, so there is generally no upfront cost or financial risk to starting a cosmetic surgery negligence claim with IBB.
To start a cosmetic eye surgery compensation claim, call us today on 0333 123 9099. Alternatively, you can email us at enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk or use the contact form on the right to request a call back.
Our expertise in cosmetic eye surgery negligence claims
Our cosmetic eye surgery claims lawyers support clients across the country. We are able to substantial compensation for complications arising from keratopigmentation surgery, such as:
- Light-sensitivity
- Reduced field of vision
- Bleeding in the eyes
- Corneal problems
- Full and partial blindness
- Post-surgical infections
We are accredited by the Law Society for Personal Injury Law reflecting our expertise in the field of personal injury law.
Our team has also been recognised by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, the two leading client guides to the legal profession, for our skill in handling clinical negligence claims.
To find out more about our specific expertise relevant to your situation, please get in touch.
How we handle eye colour change surgery negligence claims
We appreciate that, when you are dealing with the consequences of negligent cosmetic eye surgery, you simply want to get a fair settlement as quickly as you can, with the minimum possible fuss, so you can get the help you need to move forward.
This is why we focus on resolving cosmetic eye surgery claims, whether they are keratopigmentation or eyelid surgery claims, through negotiation and alternative dispute resolution wherever possible. As a result, we can secure a settlement faster and at lower cost to you, while allowing you to avoid court proceedings.
However, if court action is required to win appropriate compensation for you, we are fully prepared and able to provide the expert legal support and representation you need.
As well as our own extensive court litigation expertise, we also have strong relationships with medical experts and specialist barristers. We can, therefore, ensure you have the appropriate legal skills and knowledge available, no matter how your claim progresses.
Our no win no fee cosmetic eye surgery claims service
If worries about the cost of starting a cosmetic eye surgery claim are stopping you from taking action, we can help. Our team offer no win, no fee eye colour change surgery claims, meaning there is no upfront cost to pursuing a claim.
More formally known as a ‘conditional fee agreement’, a no win, no fee arrangement allows you to start a claim without having to pay legal costs. You will only make a contribution to the legal costs if you win, based on a percentage of part of your compensation. This means there is no financial risk to you in starting a claim.
We aim for complete transparency with our fees, so will explain exactly how they will be calculated and all associated costs and expenses at the outset. This means you will be able to see exactly what the likely costs involved are, so you should never be hit with any unexpected expenses during the eye surgery claims process.
How much compensation can you claim for eye colour change surgery negligence?
The value of a corneal tattooing claim will depend on various factors, including:
- The impact on your health
- The emotional impact, including pain and suffering
- The effect on your life e.g. not being able to live independently and carry out normal daily activities due to the effect on your vision
- The financial consequences e.g. paying for private eye surgery and lost income due to having to take time off work.
There are two types of damages you can normally claim for negligent cosmetic eye surgery:
Financial Losses and Expenses – For specific financial losses. This includes things such as paying for private treatment and care, as well as lost income due to having to take time off work and not able to return to work, or perhaps not able to command the same level of income enjoyed before the cosmetic surgery.
General Compensation – For non-financial losses, such as pain, suffering and lifestyle changes.
Our cosmetic eye surgery negligence lawyers will provide a realistic appraisal of the likely value of your claim as soon as possible, once the evidence about the effects of the negligent treatment has been obtained. That way, you will have a clear idea of what to expect when deciding how to move forward with any eye surgery claims you have brought to us.
Time limits for corneal tattooing negligence claims
There is usually a 3-year time limit to bringing eye surgery claims for a negligent cosmetic surgery procedure carried out in the UK. This time limit will be counted either from when the negligence took place or when you became aware of it.
These time limits can vary depending on the circumstances, however, so no matter when the procedure took place, we recommend contacting our cosmetic surgery negligence lawyers as soon as possible. That way, you don’t risk missing out on the opportunity to claim any compensation you are entitled to.
Is Keratopigmentation safe?
Keratopigmentation, better known as corneal tattooing, can be safe in some but is risky for others. There are also lots of different keratopigmentation techniques that make it difficult to pin down the overall safety of this type of procedure.
Techniques such as Manual intralamellar KTP are fairly safe, rapid and well-tolerated by the patient with a low rate of complications, whereas others can cause issues such as perforation and corneal melting. There are also black market keratopigmentaton procedures that increase the risk of complications.
What are the risks of keratopigmentation?
According to a review in the Scientific Journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists carried out in 2020, then risks of keratopigmentation are:
- Corneal perforation
- Toxic reaction to pigment
- Microbial infection
- Undesirable migration of pigment
Anyone who experiences these complications as a result of negligent keratopigmentation surgery, is within their right to bring cosmetic eye surgery claims against the medical body who performed the procedure.
Get in touch with our expert eye colour change surgery compensation claims solicitors today
To arrange your free consultation on starting an eye colour change surgery negligence claim, please call us on 0333 123 9099, email enquiries@ibbclaims.co.uk or use the contact form on the right to request a call back.
