Settlement Secured After Delayed Diagnosis of Retrobulbar Haematoma Leads to Permanent Vision Loss

Chloe Jacot and Eurydice Cote in our medical negligence team has obtained a settlement in a clinical negligence claim for a 68-year-old woman who lost sight in one eye following a delay in diagnosing a retromandibular haematoma.

Our client fell at home, sustaining blunt trauma to the left side of her face. After arriving at hospital, a CT scan revealed a retrobulbar haematoma — a bleed behind the eye — requiring urgent treatment. However, a catalogue of delays followed, including failures to properly assess her vision on arrival, a gap in medical cover when her allocated junior doctor fell ill, and a significant delay in acting on the CT scan results. By the time she underwent emergency eye surgery, the damage to her optic nerve was irreversible.

The Hospital Trust admitted multiple breaches of duty although causation was disputed. Our position was that the treatment failures caused or materially contributed to the permanent loss of vision in our client’s left eye.

The consequences for our client have been life changing. In addition to being completely blind in her left eye, she has developed Charles Bonnet Syndrome, which causes distressing visual hallucinations. She has also been diagnosed with PTSD, which has persisted for more than five years and has proven difficult to treat through available NHS services.

Before her injury, our client had been enjoying an active retirement, working freelance, pursuing hobbies and maintaining her independence. She now relies heavily on her husband for everyday tasks and has been unable to return to much of her former life.

Following detailed investigations and negotiations, a settlement of £130,000 was reached.