Eye doctor blamed for not taking patient off medication

Gilbert Harter is suing opthalmologist Mark A. Nekola, M.D. and Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Belleville for not taking him off a drug that caused him to suffer vision loss.

Harter claims he consulted with Nekola twice in November 2004 about suffering from blurry vision and eye pain since taking the drug ethambutol.

Represented by Hrant Norsigian, Jr., Harter is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages.

"In February 2005, plaintiff first discovered that his eye problems may have been related to ethambutol use," the complaint states. "At this time he was taken off the drug."

Harter's wife, Patricia Harter, is a co-plaintiff seeking damages for loss of society, companionship and consortium.

The suit was filed Nov. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Harter claims Nekola failed to discontinue ethambutol from his regimen of medications and failed to advise him that the drug was the cause or may be the cause of his visual problems.