BELLEVILLE – An eye patient is suing Qauntum Vision Center and one of its eye doctors alleging negligence during a procedure to wash out the patient's eye caused permanent vision loss.
Edward Clark filed the suit against the vision center and Dr. Michael Jones in St. Clair County Circuit Court alleging the procedure carried out in August 2018 also caused permanent pain and disfigurement.
The suit alleges the optician failed to identify retained lens material, or fragments, in the eye ahead of the procedure. It also alleges Jones "failed to do a proper workup of the patient's eye inflammation."
Clark alleges he developed an infection which led to blindness and the need for further surgery, including tarsorrhaphy of his left eye, where the eyelid is partially sewn together to make it narrower. The suit claims Clark sustained permanent vision loss, pain, mental anguish and disfigurement.
"He has been prevented from attending to his usual efforts and duties," the suit said. "He has incurred large sums of money in hospital, medical, and related expenses, and will incur sums in the future, all to his damage in a substantial amount." The suit seeks more than $75,000 in damages
The suit repeats the allegations against Quantum Vision Centers, which has a number of facilities in Illinois and Missouri, while Clark's wife, Sandy, is suing for loss of consortium, alleging she has been affected by the injuries to her husband.
"Sandy Clark has suffered permanent damages in that she has incurred and become liable for large sums of money in hospital, medical, and related expenses … and has been permanently deprived of the love, companionship, and support of her husband," the complaint alleges.
The parent company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Record.
Clark is represented by Thomas Q. Keefe, III of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 19-L-461