Optician Negligence Claims
Check if you can claim compensation
A routine eye test should pick up problems early. If your optician missed a serious condition, got your prescription wrong, or failed to refer you when the signs were there, and your sight or health suffered, you may be able to claim. We handle optician negligence claims across the UK and we will explain your options clearly and without pressure.
Regulated solicitors
Years' experience
No Win No Fee
Can you make an optician negligence claim?
Optician negligence means eye care that fell below a reasonable standard and caused harm. Opticians and optometrists have a duty to test your sight properly, spot the signs of serious eye conditions, and refer you to a specialist when something needs a closer look. That duty is the same whether you were seen on the NHS or at a high street practice.
You may be able to claim optician negligence compensation if your care fell short and that caused you avoidable harm. Not every deterioration in eyesight is negligence, because some conditions progress even with good care, so both parts need to be shown: that the care fell below standard, and that it made a difference to your sight or health. Most optician negligence claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.
How optician negligence happens
An eye test is often the only check most of us get on the health of our eyes. Many optician negligence claims start there: raised eye pressure that was not followed up, changes at the back of the eye that were not spotted, or symptoms that were put down to age or tiredness when they needed a specialist referral.
Others involve a prescription that was plainly wrong, poor contact lens fitting or aftercare that led to infection, or a referral letter that was never sent. Conditions like glaucoma can be treated if they are caught early, which is why a missed sign at a routine test can matter so much. Where the care fell short and left you worse off, you may be entitled to claim.
of sight loss in the UK is estimated to be avoidable
More than two million people in the UK live with sight loss. Routine eye tests can help detect signs of eye disease before noticeable symptoms develop. Where a negligent failure to identify or refer a concerning sign delayed treatment and caused avoidable harm, it may support an optician negligence claim.
Types of optician negligence we help with
These are some of the most common optician and ophthalmic negligence claims we see. If what happened to you is not listed, it is still worth asking.
Missed glaucoma
Raised eye pressure or other warning signs not picked up or followed up at an eye test, allowing preventable damage to your sight.
Other missed eye conditions
Retinal detachment, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetic eye disease or, rarely, a tumour that should have been spotted or referred.
Delayed or missing referrals
Signs that needed a specialist opinion but the referral to an ophthalmologist or GP was late, lost, or never made.
Wrong prescriptions
Glasses or contact lenses prescribed incorrectly, causing headaches, dizziness, falls or accidents, or masking a real problem.
Contact lens problems
Poor fitting, poor hygiene advice or missed warning signs at aftercare checks, leading to infections or damage to the cornea.
Laser and cataract surgery problems
Avoidable harm from laser eye surgery or cataract surgery falls under ophthalmic negligence, and we can help with those claims too.
The harm can range from avoidable pain and further treatment to permanent damage to your sight. Tell us what happened and we will let you know where you stand.
Missed glaucoma claims
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve slowly, and by the time you notice it yourself, some of the loss is usually permanent. That is why the standard eye test includes pressure checks and a look at the back of the eye. Caught early, glaucoma can usually be managed and your remaining sight protected.
Glaucoma misdiagnosis claims usually come down to warning signs that were there at an eye test but were not acted on. If your glaucoma was picked up late and your records show earlier signs, it is worth asking whether that delay should have happened.
- A pressure check to measure the fluid pressure inside your eyes
- A proper look at your optic nerve, at the back of the eye
- A visual field test if anything suggested your side vision was affected
- Attention to your family history, because glaucoma runs in families
If your records show these checks were skipped, or the results were never acted on, that is worth a conversation with us.
- The injury itself and how it affects your daily life
- The cost of further treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost earnings, now and in the future
- Aids, adaptations, care and other expenses
How much compensation for optician negligence?
There is no single figure, and no reliable average payout. Compensation for optician negligence depends on the harm the poor care caused, how it has affected your sight and your daily life, and the financial impact that followed. A wrong prescription that was corrected is very different from permanent sight loss.
We will never promise a set amount. Once medical evidence sets out what happened and how it has affected you, your solicitor can explain what your gynaecology negligence claim may include.
Evidence that supports your claim
Optician negligence claims rely on your eye care records and expert evidence, so most of the work is ours. You do not need to gather everything before you get in touch.
Not sure you have enough? Get in touch anyway. We can request your records and arrange the independent expert evidence for you.
No Win No Fee optician negligence claims
You can start an optician negligence claim without paying anything upfront. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not pay a fee for our work, subject to the terms of your agreement.
If your claim succeeds, an agreed success fee is deducted from your compensation. Your solicitor will explain this clearly before you commit to anything.
You will see the full terms in writing before your claim begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before starting your claim.
Can you sue an optician for negligence?
You may be able to, if your eye care fell below a reasonable standard and that caused you avoidable harm. Both parts need to be shown: that the optician’s care fell short, and that it made a difference to your sight or health. Not every deterioration in eyesight is negligence, because some conditions progress even with good care. Our team can assess whether you have an optician negligence claim.
Can I claim if my optician missed glaucoma?
Possibly, yes. Missed glaucoma is one of the most common optician negligence claims, because the signs, such as raised eye pressure or optic nerve changes, are often visible at a routine eye test before you notice anything yourself. If those signs were there in your records and were not acted on, and an earlier diagnosis would have protected your sight, you may have a claim.
Is there an average optician negligence payout?
No, and be cautious of any site that quotes one. Compensation depends on how badly your sight and your life have been affected, whether the harm is permanent, and the financial losses that followed. A corrected prescription error and permanent sight loss sit at opposite ends of a very wide range. Your solicitor can give you a realistic picture once the medical evidence is in place.
Can I claim against a high street or private optician?
Yes. Opticians and optometrists owe you the same duty of care whether you were seen on the NHS or at a high street or private practice, and practices carry insurance for exactly these situations. Claiming does not require you to fall out with the practice, and you can also raise standards concerns separately with the General Optical Council, which regulates opticians in the UK.
Can I claim for laser eye surgery that went wrong?
Sometimes. Laser eye surgery carries known risks even when it is done well, so a disappointing result is not automatically negligence. A claim may be possible where the surgery was carried out poorly, where you were not properly warned about the risks, or where you were not suitable for the procedure and should have been told so. These are ophthalmic negligence claims and we can advise on them.
How long do I have to make an optician negligence claim?
In most cases you have three years, running from the negligent care or from when you first realised the harm was linked to it. With slow conditions like glaucoma, that discovery date is often much later than the eye test where the sign was missed. There are exceptions for children and for people who lack the mental capacity to claim, so it is best to check rather than assume you are out of time.
Check if you can make an optician negligence claim
Tell us what happened with your eye care and we will look into it. We will explain, clearly and honestly, whether you may have a claim, and there is no obligation to go ahead.
- Free, no-obligation review
- No Win No Fee available
- SRA-regulated solicitors
Check if you can make a claim
Takes less than 60 seconds
We'll review your details and contact you within 24 hours
Not sure if you have a claim?
Most optician negligence claims must be started within three years, although the time limit may begin later for slow-developing conditions such as glaucoma. Different rules apply to children and people who lack capacity. A free, confidential assessment can help you understand your position, with no obligation to proceed.
Related Blogs
