Greenville, SC: A $180 million class action lawsuit has been filed against the national chain of Lasik eye surgery centers, TLC Lasik, alleging that eye surgeries were performed on patients who didn't qualify for surgery. A second class of the lawsuit alleges that TLC reneged on its Lifetime Commitment Contract.
There is a subset of patients who, due to the topography of their eyes, are not suited to Lasik surgery as it can leave them vulnerable to a number of chronic, debilitating conditions including ectasia, which is corneal instability.
The suit reportedly alleges that TLC created two sets of files, one patients could see, and another that was only for management use. The centers would tell patients that their ocular health was fine while on the secure management file it would be noted that the patient had ectasia, and therefore weren't candidates for Lasik surgery. As many as 1600 patients had confidential records they were not aware of, reports indicate.
The lawsuit also alleges that the defendants told patients that future procedures would improve their vision, even though TLC knew that was unlikely.
With respect to the reneging on the Lifetime Commitment Contract, the suit alleges that patients would sign-up for the contract which was supposed to provide lifetime care for any post-surgical problems, only to discover that TLC would terminate the contract after the statute of limitations for medical malpractice had expired.
One plaintiff in the case, Mr. George Carter, underwent Lasik surgery at TLC's center in Greenville, SC, in 1998 and signed up for the Lifetime Commitment Contract. When the vision in his left eye began to deteriorate, he was told that future treatments would help. However, he received no treatment and was continually told over several years that when a different type of laser becomes available they could help him. He finally went to see another ophthalmologist, who told him that his problems were likely caused by the Lasik surgery. He subsequently had to undergo a corneal transplant.
TLC LASIK Eye Surgery Class Action Legal Help
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I HAD LASIK EVEN THOUGH MY RECORDS (REVIEWED LATER) CLEARLY INDICATED I WAS NOT A CANDIDATE FOR THE SURGERY. I WAS STRUNG ALONG FOR A YEAR, THEN TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HONOR MY LIFETIME CONTRACT BECAUSE I HAD CATARACTS, WHICH ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, THEY KNEW BEFORE THEY SOLD ME THE CONTRACT. NOW, POST CATARACT SURGERY, I HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY EYES, AND A LEGAL JUDGMENT AGAINST ME BECAUSE I REFUSE TO FINISH PAYING THE CONTRACT!
Posted by Ana Nunes
on
I had Lasik vision correction in 2004 at TLC by Dr. Jodi Ambramson and have sustained serious personal injuries as a result.
Posted by Scot Piper
on
Had lasik done at TLC in March 2016. Have had nothing but problems, amd they have told me everything under the sun that they think I want to hear. Have had my eyes dialated twice for second surgery which they have never performed. I paid for the lifetime guarantee. I have emails between myself and one of the doctors/vp stating they will not do my 2nd surgery, which breaches my lifetime guarantee! He has also made me an offer that was supposed to compensate me, give me a refund, and enough money to pay for a second surgery elsewhere........the offer was barely my refund!
Posted by Sandra Buton
on
I had surgery 5/09 and they closed their doors shortly after that. I was told and read they were in bankruptcy and I had no recourse. The only difference $3840. got was reversal. I have distance but no close. My Astigmatism has gotten far worse. Now I see this company is back to swindle more people. Did I mention the surgeon smacked in the head while on the table.
Posted by Tanisha B
on
I would be very interested in participating in a class action lawsuit against TLC laser eye center for their bogus lifetime revision correction guarntee. TLC laser eye center doesn't stand behind their guarantee and refuses to do corrective revision surgeries.
Posted by Roy johnson
on
I went to laski plus on December 2015 because of blurry vision and was told I have ectasia in my eyes . I had laski surgery in 2007. On February 2016 I Reciever cross linking eye surgery and now I have headaches all day and my vision is very blurry.
Posted by Sherry Wittig
on
I was told after paying over $4,300 that I was paying for a lifetime plan (platinum) in 2008
and now they won't do my left eye surgery (2015) because they said I didn't go to the eye doctor once a year which they claim voided my contract.
I was told I was paying for any time I needed the surgery again and they did not make me aware that I needed to yearly get my eyes checked, although they said I voided the contract that I was charged double for - to get the lifetime package.
Posted by brian bohan
on
I had lasik over 10 years ago at tlc. Today I was diagnosed with coronal ectasia
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